We all have gaps in our communication, most of those gaps come from not being able to understand where the other individual is coming from. We tend to make assumptions of people by filling in gaps with our own suspicions or our own historical understanding of what we did or would have done in that situation. With that knowledge, I cannot tell you how many times people come to me and talk to me about the generational miscommunication happening in the work environment. It’s weird to me because I sit between both generations and have worked alongside both sides. So I decided to let you know how to engage the next generation with a simple write up.
I have worked with the next generation for 15 years and I am thrilled to see where they go and what they bring to the world. So though this is not exhaustive list by any means, here are 4 ways you can engage in the next generation today!
Remember that you were young once.
These are the leaders of tomorrow. Don’t forget that, and don’t lose sight of that. Remember that at one time, you were young and knew everything! This is an important step in the process because you will inevitably have more empathy when you recall some of the decisions you made when you were young. Now that you’re older, and have more experience, you know the value of experience. However when you’re young, you haven’t had enough experiences to know the value. So let’s not be too hasty to jump on the train of placing someone in a category beyond their understanding. Remember that you were young once. You can help them grow by allowing them to grow. Also, another pro tip is to remember that this person isn’t you. You did what you would do because it’s easy for you to be you. If you want to be effective in engaging this next generation, you need to get to know them and their personality to learn what they would do.
It’s a different world now, and things are changing. You can try to control the variables of change by trying to get things to stay the same, or share a bigger vision for what could be.
Share a bigger vision.
One of the ways to get the younger generation to engage is to share a bigger vision for them than the one they are working with at present. They don’t know what they don’t know. They also don’t know how vital it is to have people help you along the way. When you share a bigger vision something scary and beautiful will happen; they will start to believe in it! Sharing a bigger vision will also allow that individual to realize if they want that bigger vision to come true, they’ll need to have help along the way. Before you know it, they may even ask you to help them. Sharing vision can engage an entire generation of creative thinking because they have not sat in the “what if” of possibilities like you have. They have a fresh perspective that is vital for the next frontier.
Be honest and give specific feedback.
There is an idea permeating culture that this generation of younger leaders cannot handle feedback. That is simply not true. This generation is great with feedback! I know this because not only do I give feedback, but I give difficult feedback. I’ve never once had a young leader come to me and be upset that I’ve stepped into their world to give honest and specific feedback. What they don’t love, and you don’t love this either if you’re being honest, is feedback clouded with judgement. But when you’re honest, there is a realization that you’re giving me feedback to make me better. And when I know you’re for me when I am growing, I will engage in the vision more deeply.
Pay attention.
Tomorrows cutting edge and innovating idea might just be coming from someone who works for you. Try to not lock into the “that’s how we’ve always done it” mentality. Instead, invite ideas from every corner and level of the organization and when you find one that sounds a little bit equal parts crazy and equal parts possible, invite that individual into the conversation and pay attention. They don’t even need to have it all figured out, but the idea can drive an entire organization to significant success if you are paying attention. Someone is going to have that idea. You might want to see if it’s one of your people. Pay attention to the ideas and try not to cloud those ideas with your own doubts. Let the idea stand for what it is, an idea.
I hope this helps you, your church, your organization, and your leaders better! Go get ’em!
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