The Critical Role of Mentorship

• Author: John P. Box Jr.
• Pages: 63-77

63

5

The Critical Role

of Mentorship

If you are a Gen Xer or Boomer, you may be thinking, “Let me get this

straight: Millennials are extremely confident in their own abilities and

they don’t believe in hierarchies. So, where exactly do I fit in?” The

answer may surprise you. You are absolutely critical in the development

and mentorship of your firm’s young associates. Simply put, your Mil-

lennial associates really, really want to learn from you and work closely

with you. According to a human resources solutions firm, 90 percent of

Millennials would like to have regular check-ins with their superiors.1

Neil Howe, who coined the term “Millennial,” explained that “most

Millennials want to bond with an employer who will partner with them

to achieve their lifelong career goals.”2 In the age of super-confident, flat-

hierarchy-embracing young employees, your role as a mentor has never

1. Jeff Fromm, Millennials in the Workplace: They Don’t Need Trophies but They Want Reinforcement,

F, Nov. 6, 2015.

2. N H  R N, M   W: H R S  

N G 9 (2010).

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