Going New School

Fresh perspectives: Jack Welch realized that GE was falling far behind other companies in its use of the Internet as a business tool. CEO Welch himself rarely surfed the Web, finding it overwhelming. But he realized that understanding and embracing online technology was critical to GE’s long-term success.

To catch up, Welch instituted a “reverse mentoring” program at GE. He required more than 500 of his top executives to find a younger, tech-savvy “Web mentor” to teach them how to use the web and understand e-business.

Following Welch’s lead, a growing number of organizations, from Proctor and Gamble to Seattle Public Schools and Wharton Business School, implemented reverse mentoring programs to help them understand technology, business trends, and pop culture.

Emerging implications: What if seasoned ministry leaders followed such an example and used reverse mentoring to gain understanding of the emerging culture?

As postmodern thought continues to permeate our culture, church leaders would be wise to become fluent in the language of the emergent conversation. The best way to do this is to become a willing and intentional student of the culture, to become the humble protégé instead of the mentor.

Reverse mentoring can take place either formally or informally.

—Angie Ward, Durham, North Carolinawith info from entrepreneur.com and galtglobalreview.com

Reverse Mentoring

Getting started:

Create a “focus group” of high school or college students. Assure them that they can say anything they want and you welcome their analysis and criticism. This means sitting quietly and fighting the urge to refute or explain anything. Take notes, then take their comments to heart and prayerfully consider their implications for ministry.
Find a leader in your area who is fluent in the emerging culture. Meet monthly to learn more about the emerging generations. Ask about ways to involve younger people in church life, ministry, and leadership.
Attend the Emergent Convention, a local Gathering, or another next generation conclave. www.emergentvillage.com.
Check out these Christian websites: www.the-next-wave.org; www.theooze.com; www.faithmaps.org.
Ask teachers what their students are talking about. What are the hottest bands, TV shows, movies, and political issues?
Buy (and read!) a copy of Entertainment Weekly. Pop culture is today’s window to the soul, so do some soul watching. Spend several hours browsing the magazine covers at Barnes & Noble. Catch a week’s worth of opening monologues on late-night TV shows.