Multi-Generational Engagement

In my work at Slalom, I get to interact daily with team members who are significantly younger than I am. I'm consistently impressed with their global perspective, curiosity, character, passion, and drive. In so many ways their generation is lightyears ahead. The future is in good hands. 

I'm also a dad to two young men who will both be in college within the next few months. I'm often surrounded by the infectious energy of teenagers descending on our home for free food, video gaming, and epic nerf gun battles. Getting a front row seat to high school students has been a joy and also fills me with hope for the future of our world. 

Too often, older generations like mine look at those who are younger through a negative lens, contributed to by unprocessed disappointment in self or a lack of curiosity to understand different perspectives. While it makes for an easy punchline to generalize a generation or overemphasize a few bad apples, we miss out on so much potential development and growth if we take this approach. 

If you're like me and in the second half of your life/career, it's time to pursue conversations with people in the first half of theirs. And instead of engaging to offer up advice to the "kids", engage in the conversation with the goal of listening and learning from someone younger than yourself. I suspect you'll be blown away by how much insight, perspective, and wisdom they have to offer. If you're looking for an easy next step, reach out to a younger co-worker and schedule a coffee conversation for next week. You won't regret it!