ChangeLinks: Managing Generational Change

ChangeLinks is a semi-regular series at Never the Same River Twice. Each edition will feature one aspect of personal or organizational change and point the way to resources that explore the problem and suggest solutions.

The United States (and much of the rest of the developed world) is on the brink of one of the largest demographic shifts in human history. Within the next 10 years, most of the Baby Boomer generation will have reached retirement age, causing unprecedented amounts of turnover at the leadership levels of all types of organizations. This is definitely going to be a time of rapid change!

My day job is in the nonprofit sector, a part of the economy that has grown exponentially thanks to Baby Boomer founders and the Reagan-era devolution of government. The average age of organizational leaders (many of them the founders of those orgs) in the sector is rapidly approaching 60 and we are all trying to figure out what to do about it. It’s a huge challenge, but also a huge opportunity and I want to highlight some resources that are helping organizations with those transitions.

The Building Movement Project offers a series of free reports looking at generational change and leadership transitions. Although their stuff is written mostly for nonprofit leaders, the ideas are applicable to many types of small business.

Rosetta Thurman is a passionate emerging leader in the nonprofit sector. Her blog Perspectives From The Pipeline focuses on the next generation of leadership and the new characteristics that Generation X and Y leaders bring to the table.

Jim Carroll is a futurist who shares a very funny, but telling story of the generational disconnect between Baby Boomer traditionalist and Millenial technologists. I do have to say this though, “Jim, put your videos on YouTube!”

Employee Evolution is a site that helps Millenials transition into the workplace and find fulfilling jobs. You’ve got to love a job coaching site that includes an article titled, Ask These Questions to Make Sure Your Boss Won’t Suck.

The Millennials are Coming! is a hyperbole riddled, but informative video about some of the major values of the Millennial workforce. I’m somewhat reluctant to recommend it, but it’s probably worth 12 minutes.

Finally, I’m going to self-promote a bit and point to my post What is MeBranding and Why Does It Matter For Your Nonprofit? Again, this is written with nonprofit needs in mind, but this new type of mass customization has a lot of implications for all types of organizations.

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There’s been more updates to the Personal Development Partners site and subscription options. Aaron announced a few days ago that he is converting the 6 month subscriptions to $20 EVERY month. The good news is, if you join now at the $20 for 6 months price you will be grandfathered in at that rate for as long as you are member. He is also adding a new subscribers-only podcast, as well as offering his e-coaching program all included in the membership. Even at $20 per month, this is a steal!