Generational Truth for Leaders

 

For the first time in American history, we have five generations working and collaborating in the same workforce. Leading people the way they need to be led has never been more important. 

To lead in today’s world, you must know where your team is at before you can guide and lead them to somewhere new. This means you need to understand each motive and, core values of each generation. 

Today’s leader who does not do this will simply lose influence with their team. You’ll find disinterested followers under your guidance. So I put together a quick road map of the five generations to help guide you to being the best leader you can be right now.

For your team that was born between 1928 and 1945, they are in what is called the Greatest Generation sometimes referred to as the Silent Generation too. Their values consist of hard work, conformity, and working together for the common good. Their communication is more direct and formal. They prefer a letter, email, or face-to-face communication. They want clear goals and objectives for meeting them. Invite these people to share their wisdom and mentor others.

Next, we go to those born between 1946 and 1964, known as the Baby Boomers. They are optimistic but have a defined sense of right and wrong. They prefer you to communicate with them personally. Like the generation before them, they also want to measure results but want freedom in how they get to the end result. For you, let them do it their way while monitoring and verifying progress. 

Generation X was born between 1965 and 1980. They are highly entrepreneurial and perhaps not as loyal as the previous generations. To communicate with them, communicate directly but give room for their input. They want to know what is going on and how they fit into the larger picture. They value work but also have involvement in human rights and the community. 

Between 1981 and 1997, Generation Y (or Millennials) were born. They believe in success, want clear measurements of progress or failure, and prefer direct, meaningful feedback. However, they prefer to communicate through text or social media. Millennials are even more interested than their parents in making a difference and adding value globally. They need to know that what they are doing matters. They value work/life balance more than any other generation. 

Born after 1997, is a fully-fledged digital and mobile technology Generation Z. They are expected to have 12-15 jobs in their lifetime. They want to know how they fit into the bigger picture, how their work matters, and how to make a difference for good - environmentally or globally. They are amazing at teamwork and collaboration. 

Your job as the leader is to be intentional, deliberate and to connect with your teams of people, regardless of the generation they come from. 

Best, 

Manal

The Resilient Leader

 

The word on everyone’s lips these days is resiliency. This is what happens in times that require perseverance, managing stress, and facing challenges. Leaders use resiliency as a way to bounce back. 

It isn’t luck, they have a set of skills - learned or innate that kick in during times of opportunity. 

Resilience requires some attributes we can all learn from. I’ll talk about a few of them in this article and I’d love to hear your feedback too. 

Resilient leaders lead from their strengths. They know by tapping into the things that come naturally to them. Working in your strengths takes less effort, energy, and time than if they were to try to learn something new at this moment in time. 

Resilient leaders are community-focused. They do not try to live alone. They have close friends, they communicate when there are problems and they help others who have a need too. Knowing they have support and can give support takes the pressure off of them being the superhero in their own life. 

Resilient leaders are positive. They don’t just think positively but they are proactive to avoid or deter obstacles that may prevent issues or problems down the road. If you listen to them speak, they have assurance in their voice and tone that it will be truly okay. 

Resilient leaders are open-minded people. They are self-aware of their thinking and their self-talk. This awareness makes their communication with others clear. They don’t make assumptions, but rather ask questions. They adjust as they need to and they take control of only the things within their immediate power and let go of the rest. 

Resilient leaders are authentic. They are vulnerable and don’t try to be perfect. This is why their followers adore them. The team can then be open to being vulnerable and real too. A leader who can adjust to situations that come their way and take their team through obstacles in life will continue to have followers and a team to lead.

Best,

Manal

Business in 2022

 

Perhaps 2022 seems like a moment of decision for you. 

Congratulations on arriving here. Tony Robbins always says, “It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.”

The fact is we make decisions all the time. Everything we do is a destiny-shaping moment. People always say that where you are now is just the result of the decisions you have made up to this point. 

When I am in a great place, this feels empowering but when I am in a stressful time, this statement can feel overwhelming if I let it. The reason it can feel this way is what comes along with it. If you don’t love where you are at in your life and leadership, perhaps you have made some decisions that haven’t best supported you thus far. 

I know many leaders who were at the top of their game, when COVID happened and things that seemed out of their control spiraled them or their businesses into places they didn’t ever foresee happening. 

Many leaders and businesses are thriving during this time. They chose to make some quick, forward-thinking decisions for their businesses that put them in front of opportunity and gain. 

The goal of this isn’t to determine if you made good or bad decisions. The goal is to empower you that you ultimately get to decide. You get to be self-aware, in control of your emotions, and ultimately empowered to choose what you focus on. You can look at the lack and loss of the last few years or you can look at the possibilities, opportunities, and gains. It truly is a matter of focus. 

Look back at why you decided to lead, what was your passion, purpose, and motive. Is that still true for you today? If it is, how can you accomplish that despite the controllable and uncontrollable situations in your life? There is always a way for the determined business leader. 

I believe in you and know business will be better with you engaged, focused, and hungry for success this year. 

Go get it!

Best, 

Manal

Learning From Ghandi

We can learn much from the other leaders. Let’s take a look at one man who influenced millions of people in this time. He lived his life for a definite purpose and truly redefined leadership by his example. 

Mahatma Gandhi was the leader of India’s independence movement through forms of nonviolent civil disobedience. People globally draw inspiration from him. His spiritual significance was just as impactful as his role in liberating India. 

He was born in 1869. He took part in an arranged marriage at age 13. After this he rebelled against his religious upbringing by smoking, eating meat, and stealing. That isn’t the Gandhi most of us know of. At 18, he set sail to London to study law. At age 24 he went to South Africa. It was here where he saw discrimination and racial segregation throughout this society. 

On June 7, 1893, Gandhi was thrown off a train station by a white man after he refused to move to the back of the train car. By 1906, he organized his first mass civil disobedience campaign in South Africa. He spent the next 9 years fighting for Indian rights. 

Mahatma was a leading figure in the liberation movement. After years of struggle and multiple arrests, Britain eventually withdrew from India in 1942. He was the 43rd President of the Indian National Congress. 

Gandhi was murdered by a Hindu extremist. He spent his entire life voicing non-violence. He is most remembered for his commitment to pacifism, peaceful protest, and simple living. He ultimately inspired millions of people to action, preaching a message of love, tolerance, and the avoidance of greed. 

In his 55 years, Mahatma Gandhi is remembered as one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century. 

Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” If we look at his life, he certainly did that. 

The internet is full of Gandhi quotes, but it is an interesting thought to ask this question, “How many people would be willing to “be the change” they want in the world?” To the point of dying for their cause? This takes on a whole different level of leadership. 

Decide what you want and dedicate your whole life to it. 

Best, 

Manal