Respect the Knowledge not the Age

Millennials now surpass Gen Xers as the largest population in the workforce. As a millennial, you may already be leading people your own age and older. Many Gen Xers know what I’m talking about. If you are a Boomer not only may you be leading Millennials, Xers and other Boomers—but those you lead today could be leading you tomorrow! So how do we lead across the generations…from the middle, up and down? How do we manage a voice from within that might say, “You just don’t get it? I’m going to move right around or over you to get this done with people my age who DO get it”. Or the one that says, “hey wait a minute…I’m older and more experienced than you so how about I show you how it’s done rather than the other way around”?

There’s only one way that works for leading across the generations: respect the knowledge and not the age. The statement says it all. As a Boomer, it is entirely possible (and I welcome when this happens) that a Millennial or Xer has a different experience than I do on the same topic or even more experience with that topic which can provide great benefit to me. I ask myself, “What can I gain from their knowledge?” That becomes the focus. Frankly, I don’t care how old they are. I care about the integrity of the knowledge and the authenticity of how they present it. I hope the same is true for Millennials and Xers as well when in a similar situation. And while we’re at it, how about respect the knowledge not the gender? The Arizona Cardinals appointed the first female coach in NFL history. There’s a move that’s all about qualifications and leadership ability and nothing else! The players’ point of view? They want quality coaching to perform at their best. They want to respect and be led by a coach whose qualifications and knowledge will contribute to greater success for them. Coach Jennifer Welter brings that.

Respecting the knowledge and not the age (or gender) is a great way to lead and be led in the multi-generational and multi-national workforce (and what a great one it is!) we thrive in today.

No Place Like Face-to-Face

Remember what Dorothy famously said three times at the end of the Wizard of Oz…”there’s no place like home”. What was she most excited about when she woke up from her incredible journey to the Land of Oz? It was seeing the faces of those she loved the most surrounding her and being in the place that meant so much to her. She didn’t say it in the movie but was probably thinking, ‘there’s no place like face-to-face’. But if Dorothy lived today, what would she do next?

She might have Skyped with more people outside of Kansas about the crazy thrill ride of an experience she’d just had. Or she would walk around the neighborhoods in Kansas wearing Google Glass  in a mad rush to map places and faces and take videos to see if it all really was a dream. Or, Dorothy could have stayed right at home and recreated her dream in her actual physical space to blend real items, holograms and other elements using Microsoft Hololens.

Speaking of cool ways to connect, maybe someone should remake the end of the movie and introduce social media. Call it, ‘The Prologue: Dorothy from Oz on Social Media’. It wouldn’t matter. The impact of Dorothy’s message through any social media would derive from her actual experience.

The fact is, Dorothy was so great in the movie because of her authenticity—the way her feelings and intention were known. The way she was engaging because of her transparency and honesty (which does not mean she was a pushover!). All of which she used to create trust and a strong ability to connect so well with others be they friend or foe.

So my quick question for you is this: what is unique about how you connect with people in person and on line—what makes you authentic? How authentically we connect in person anywhere and everywhere launches how great we can be using social media. Be great!

Carson Daily knows how to connect.

Carson Daily knows how to connect.

Were you watching the ball drop in Times Square this past New Year’s Eve from the comfort of someplace warm?  If you were, than you too saw in the last one minute before midnight; you know—that somewhat awkward time for TV hosts when they have to fill air time before the countdown begins—when Carson Daily made a very interesting comment.  I wish I had recorded it.  He said something to the effect, ‘… how good it was for everyone to be gathered in person celebrating this event—-as a group of people—-instead of doing it online.’  Wow. Did that hit anyone like it did me? If it did then you must be an early or late stage Boomer and if it didn’t then you, like Carson Daily may find it less familiar to be participate in that unique, ‘can only feel it if you are physically present’ experience of celebrating an event with lots of other people crowded around. It happens a lot more at Malls, Concerts, Clubs and other temporary entertainment gigs these days and sometimes at demonstrations, rallies or auditorium events. (Could the political change going on right now in the Middle East happen exclusively online?) Carson Daily made a great observation when he made his comment that nothing replaces people being connected with people without the wireless interface, Wall, Page, or Tube. You just can’t replicate that through other media.

Gary Danoff is an Account Executive at Microsoft where he strives to deliver both great customer service and
outstanding value.  Gary can be reached at gdanoff@microsoft.com