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advice and help developing their leadership skills. Here are the top three reasons
why mentoring is a great solution to engaging your next generation.

1) ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND EXPERTISE

Gen Y is a generation of collaborative Googlers. They want quick, reliable answers
at their fingertips and draw from a network of peers to gather information to make
decisions. For this generation to be engaged, they need to be connected to others
and guide their own work. Organizations that encourage resourcefulness and self-
reliance; rejecting the idea that only the most senior managers are expected to have
answers, are best at overcoming barriers to results and roadblocks to collaboration.
Rather than scheduling a time with a busy senior manager, a mentee can access
their mentor to engage in discussion and timely learning. It also provides a go-to
source for mentees to ask questions, share ideas and brainstorm. The best part; a
mentor does not have to be a subject matter expert to be able to assist. A mentor
simply needs to have navigated similar situations, be resourceful, and know other
subject matter experts to make connections for the mentee.

2) REGULAR FEEDBACK

The Gen Y desire for timely and regular feedback is a fundamental work
expectation. Gen Ys like regular check points to ensure they are on the right track
to achieving the desired result, and validation of their own skills and abilities. The
old management approach of if you don’t hear from me assume everything is good
does not work for Gen Ys nor does a once-a-year performance review.

AL INMAN / KIM CARNAHAN

Phone: 204.697.4707 1327 Border Street
Fax: 204.633.5000 Winnipeg, MB R3H 0N1

8 BOMA MANITOBA INSIDER | ISSUE 8 | WINTER 2017/18