Lead with an Intergenerational Mindset

culled from:mybusinessideas.com

Ted Coiné posted a quiz to see if we are all Millennials. Ted made some excellent points, and his challenge sparked a thought. Aren’t we all generations? If not, shouldn’t we be?

When I was a 20-something, we never thought much about generations. There were just people who were older and had more experiences, and there were younger people who brought a fresh perspective and energy. Together, the mix was a powerful one, if both individuals were open to each other.

Even though we didn’t focus on a specific generation, we did understand the importance of learning from those who helped build what we have today. Similarly, leaders from older generations gave us opportunities to pursue, learn, and lead. Mutual respect was present as was an interest to engage.

The reality is we are a sum of all generations, and we should be. Each generation has fought battles, won, failed, learned, invented, wrote, led, and tried to leave a better place than those before them. We need to embrace the lessons from each generation.
“We are a sum of all generations, and we should be.” @ThinDifference

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I am the Silent Generation.

The Silent Generation did more than survive challenging times (e.g., economic malaise, World War II). From farms to cities, they rose to the challenge and jumped in. Men and women joined initiatives larger than just themselves and their families. They fought for freedom and did it with a service mindset. No real questions about what to do were asked. Serving and doing to meet the higher needs were more than just a cause; it was duty and responsibility.

The mindset is serve. I am here to serve.
I am a Boomer.

Boomers weathered change. Each generation can claim significant technological advances and societal shifts but Boomers navigated many changes. Some lost their ethical ways during the ups and downs – likely similar to previous generations, just more readily available on TV.

What did shift was a greater focus on self. As an individual, carrying on the family tradition from a career standpoint began to fade as Boomers started to read and embrace “What Color Is Your Parachute?” and “Do What You Are?” Building careers based on who we are rather than tradition or someone else’s expectation began to elevate as a better way.

Boomers began to tap into being more self-aware and then applying the insights to their career plans and leadership. By doing this, the stage may have been set for future changes and upending traditions and hierarchical structures.

    Building careers based on who we are rather than tradition or someone else’s expectation began to elevate as a better way.

The mindset is self-awareness. Being self-aware enables me to be a better leader. I strive to be more self-aware.
I am a Generation X.

Generation X may be accused of many things from “greed is good” to “change is a constant.” Generation X fast-tracked change, experimenting with new organizational structures and using technology to promote efficiency. Reengineering the Corporation was more than a book; it was a transformational way to view work – how it was focused, organized, and done. Generation X may have started the end of organizational loyalty and manual work. Enter in keyboards, computer monitors, process diagrams, and flatter organizations.

Generation X changed business models and applied technology to disrupt the way work was done, metrics tracked, and orders taken and delivered. Within the four walls of an organization, things would never be the same. Think supply chain, lean-enabled processes, customer relationship management (CRM), and much more.

    Generation X may have started the end of organizational loyalty and manual work. Enter in keyboards, computer monitors, process diagrams, and flatter organizations.

The mindset is change. Positive change is good alone. Change to grow and empower requires learning leaders and organizations. I strive to sustain change for personal and organizational growth.
I am a Millennial.

Much has been written about Millennials. Eagerness to understand this generation is flooding in, and this eagerness often overlooks context. Millennials entered an economy decimated by older generations, one of the worse economic situations since the Great Depression. Add in a tough dash of rising college expenses, and you have some strong headwinds for Millennials.

Millennials, however, have a resilience and attitude of solving problems. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong as is their sense of purpose. Doing work that matters does matter to Millennials.

Beyond these point, technology is being extended aggressively outside the four walls of the workplace. Working virtually may be preferred, and collaborating outside normal organizational teams is a new way to conduct research, gain insights, and solve challenges.

The mindset is a purpose-centered hardiness. A fearlessness exists to resolve age-old problems and move beyond barriers, real and imposed. Embedded within is strong purpose compass. I am a conscious leader.

    The mindset is a purpose-centered hardiness. A fearlessness exists to resolve age-old problems and move beyond barriers, real and imposed. Embedded within is strong purpose compass.

I am a Generation Z.

This generation has not hit the workplace yet but take everything Millennials are doing and multiple it by four (at least). Generation Z is very comfortable with virtual, collaborative friendships and partnerships. Through platforms like Steam and Reddit, the world is truly flat. More than this, the world is inclusive. Where someone comes from doesn’t matter. What matters is who they are, what they offer, and how they interact with others.

The mindset is open. Openness to possibility and collaborative results are intermixed with creativity and innovation. Being open translates into growth for leaders and, with the right principles, a new level of disruption may be on its way. I am open to positive possibilities.

    Where someone comes from doesn’t matter. What matters is who they are, what they offer, and how they interact with others.

We are all generations.

We seem to forget that Boomers were born out of the Silent Generation and Generation X from Boomers, meaning we are all connected by a common thread. Each step forward into a new year and decade, we try to lead in better ways and become better people. We are doing more than just pulling from the past; we are learning from it. We are more than being present; we are creating the future.

Creating the future is about working together across the generations, carrying on the best in each and making improvements as we move forward.

Did I get each generation exactly right? Maybe not. I based much of it on my experiences through the years, and this may be the point, too. Each generation begins to blend together, as it should. We need to weave our experiences together to create a stronger leadership bond today and for the future.

Are you adopting and using an intergenerational mindset? If so, what leadership practices work for you?

    We are doing more than just pulling from the past; we are learning from it. We are more than being present; we are creating the future.