“Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”

Last week, we had a Leadership Development Institute (LDI) and the theme was “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” the title on Dr. Seuss’ last book. The book talks about the journey of life and its ups and downs. It is a perennial gift for any graduate; I got one when I graduated with my undergrad. If you haven’t read it, check it out. Like every other Seuss book, it is relatable to almost everyone and can teach valuable lessons. This is part of the reason why we chose this theme – that and the ability to whimsically decorate the room and tables with colorful nonsensical things.

The focus of the learning was communication among the generations in the workplace. Of the 30+ leaders in attendance, the room was almost split evenly between Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers. That may sound well proportioned but what about the other generations? We only have 2 Millenials in leadership roles – and as we all know Millenials are part of the future of our workplaces. Their time is coming to move into leadership roles but they are battling the perception that they are listless and unmotivated.

Getting input from Millenials is necessary for success. In Millenials Rising, Howe and Strauss, talk about the image of the Millenials moving from being downtrodden and alienated to upbeat and engaged. They consider Millenials to have “potentially seismic consequences for America.” In reality, the Millenials need to have this impact. They are coming on heels of generations that won wars, built our physical and technological infrastructure and pushed the economy to places unheard of. To get this point, our Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers have to let the Millenials show their true colors. Of course, they will have to stop texting at work, first.

Wow – we have some places to go.

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