A shout out to the non-profit, Launching Leaders. Their mission is to help the new generations find fulfillment through applying proven principles and spirituality to their everyday lives. We will be sharing articles from them periodically in an effort to provide more resources to our amazing young adult readers and leaders.
Now to Launching Leaders…
My grandson came to me recently (he was four at the time) and said “Grandpa, I have issues.” Surprised that such a young lad would utter or even think of such reasoning, I nevertheless replied “Elijah, it’s OK, I have issues too.” And so it is than from the mouths of babes come the most succinct truths.
I share a most common challenge with the youth, that of anxiety. I get all bothered by what others may categorize as the most mundane things on occasion; sometimes it reveals its face in the form of impatience, not wanting to be in crowds, or even as weird as having a table in the restaurant that has ample room and a view toward the patrons to feel safe. Sometimes it doesn’t make much sense, but it is who I am. Deal with it. I guess I implemented “social distancing” before it was a health suggestion.
Maybe this is one reason I honor and respect the way the rising generations look at life. “Don’t box me in” they say. “I’m open to mentoring, but don’t push me, let me find the way without being corralled” is what they are sometimes thinking without saying.
One of my little hobbies is raising cows. When you want to move a bunch of cows from one pasture to another, you can’t just open a gate and expect them to all end up in the right field. Eventually they might find the greener pastures, but they do best if they are gently led. You get a good distance on the outside of them, perhaps one person on either side. Then you position yourself so as not to push them, but come alongside so they are still slightly ahead, and you are just a bit behind their heads. They will see you out of the corner of their eyes and move forward. But if you get right behind them, they will peel off and circle back around, heading in the exact opposite direction. I learned this from Temple Grandin in Cow School at Colorado State University, and then practiced this technique.
Guess what, in this way our beloved rising generations have the same mind-set as cows. They will graciously accept mentoring, but don’t want to be pushed. They want to have their heads in the lead so they won’t get boxed in or corralled into a corner where they just don’t want to be.
The concept of being unfettered while blazing their own trail is now shaping the Millennial and Gen Z job market. “Instead of identifying your job role or description, you [will be] constantly adding skills based on what is going to make you more employable,” says Jeanne Meister, New York-based co-author of The Future Workplace Experience. In other words, the 20 and 30-somethings don’t want to be boxed in by a career, but rather, they want to make a difference and hone their skills toward many opportunities to do just that. This “affirmative exile” or pushing against the status quo is shaping the world landscape.
In addition to this concept of not being boxed in or living life in a box, the futurists of human resources say that the job criteria of twenty and thirty somethings will be best served by doing several long-term projects at once; thus being able to utilize skills to make a difference over a broad platform or spectrum. With today’s technology and the shrinking of the globe, it’s not out of the question to see traditional careers transform into numerous micro-jobs aimed at well-paid skilled workers; not so much a hierarchal organizational chart where you work your way up the ladder.
Living in this new environment requires a little planning, even for the rising generations; everything just doesn’t “happen.” That is why we offer a complete framework in Launching Leaders to come along-side as they chart their course and create their own future. Making plans for life still includes goals. The goals nowadays might be to acquire the skills needed to pursue a passion, rather than a job description or career title. It’s all about finding and adopting the right mentors to gently lead from the side, and not try to corral the youth into their old ways of thinking.
So what can all generations, especially the older ones do, to help this amazing process? Here are three things to consider.
- Lead to open pasture, not a corral. Allowing the free thinking and open space concept of young minds to roam free while still providing gentle “alongside” mentoring will allow them to find their green pastures and fulfill their holistic natures. Be open and inviting to accepting the contributions they can make, even in their own style.
- Think skills, not career. Once upon a time in my corporate career life, I had TWO administrative assistants. They had the skills I needed which I did not personally possess. Because they were young adults with the skill sets required to maximize my efforts, they were able to lead micro charges and apply their skills over a broad spectrum. That is exactly how they desired to work. Encourage and foster mentorship along the lines of skills, not “career paths.” Praise their amazing contributions and embrace their passion.
- Let them graze. When the young adults find their green pastures, don’t try to micromanage their efforts. You will be pleasantly surprised at how productive and amazing their contributions are when you let them graze freely in the pastures of life and not be boxed in. Remember, THEY are shaping the world we live in. I am personally honored to come along-side them as they do so.
Because of the “issues” I have, I totally appreciate the way the rising generations lead their determined and free-spirited lives. I encourage the older generations to celebrate their amazing virtues and way of thinking. Let’s all incorporate the practice of coming alongside and not try to box each other in.
Steve Hitz is a co-founder of Launching Leaders Worldwide www.llworldwide.org, a nonprofit organization that empowers young adults with personal leadership and faith. The Launching Leaders course is free on the BYU Independent Study website (scroll to leadership). Steve is the author Launching Leaders: An Empowering Journey for a New Generation, and Entrepreneurial Foundations for Twenty and Thirty-Somethings, available at Deseret Book or Amazon.
