You Don’t Have to Do This
Connecting Talent & Experience
Are you having trouble connecting your multi-generational teams? We can call it the Age Gap, Experience Gap, Generation or Millennial Gap. In practice we are faced with the challenge of leveraging the talent, energy, and creativity of the young generation, and integrating it with the wisdom and expertise of our experienced team members. If you aren’t in management, chances are you still work closely with people on both sides of this gap in your daily personal and professional.
How do you attract and keep both sides of the gap engaged in their work?
Whether you have the ability and power to make company-wide changes, or are one of the leaders caught in the middle with responsibility but no control – YOU have the power to engage with your team across this gap.
Do Something You Don’t Have to Do
What can you – without special power or dispensation – do to connect across the gap? Make the small choices to do things that you don’t have to do for or with that person on the other side of the gap. Bringing coffee to a meeting, delivering someone else’s mail, or giving a small, unexpected gift or acknowledgement can connect you to an emerging leader because it communicates that YOU MATTER.
Emerging Leaders
Emerging leaders (that young generation that we need and are still learning how to develop) are drawn to experience, and want to learn from and work with people who value them as people.
Positive Leadership
So that’s it – find something you don’t have to do, and do it. It’s how positive leaders knit their teams together and build the trust and influence across the gap to accomplish great things.The truth is, this practice works to build your influence and effectiveness working with anyone regardless of their age or pedigree.