A Boomer Lands in Millennialville!

As I type this post, I am sitting in the Kansas City airport ready to board my flight to Park City, Utah for the Sundance Film Festival. I feel honored and tremendously excited to have been invited by John Priddy to help document Windrider Forum’s Q&A sessions—as students from around the world participating in the Windrider International Student Film Festival (WISFF), will present their films at Sundance.

Along with my excitement—I’m also experiencing some anxiety. First of all, I know very little about filmmaking. I watch movies … but that’s as far as my expertise gets me. Second—I’m also a Baby Boomer plunged into a sea of Millennials—fearing the great chasm between these generations is too great to conquer. One would think that I’m an expert in understanding this savvy generation—I am the mother of four of them after all! But I humbly admit … that is not the case. However, a year ago, I began working alongside John with Windrider Productions, hence, the purpose of my venture to the Sundance Film Festival.

 

This event brings together filmmakers from around the world and offers a venue to express stories that will effect social change and empower communities through documentary film and visual media. Engaging with the world through the power of story—the Windrider Forum offers the emerging generation an opportunity to connect two passions—vocation and faith.

 

So what does it look like for a boomer to enter into a land of Millennials? A generation described as narcissistic, social media obsessed, undeservingly entitled, and an overall lost generation? Why should boomers even care about having a role with this generation? Because I’m not an expert in understanding the hype about the great divide between these generations—I’ve done what I love to do best—research. So here’s some things I’ve learned:

• Because the millennial generation is the largest age group to emerge since the baby boom generation, as this group grows significantly as a proportion of the workforce over the next 20 years, employers will need to make major adjustments in their engagement models (Ivey Business Journal). In all reality, Baby Boomers and Millennials will be working side by side with each other for some time to come (People’s World).

• The leaders of nonprofits declare that they must prepare a new generation of leaders if their organizations are to continue to benefit the communities and constituencies they serve (Facing the Future, Elizabeth Bibb Binder and Kirk Kramer).

 

• Frustrated by the common portrayal of Millennials, in her book Becoming the Boss: New Rules for the Next Generation of Leaders, Lindsey Pollak offers insight and wisdom for Millennials and those of us determined to encourage and support them. She writes, “I believe strongly that today’s young people have tremendous potential, but they do need some guidance on soft skills such as face-to-face communication, work ethic, and professional patience.” Her book brings guidance and support to this huge generation of our world’s future leaders. I highly recommend it!

• In his book, Generation iY: Our Last Chance to Save Their Future, Tim Elmore explores the cultural, moral, technological, and spiritual issues this generation confronts—offering relevant and profound insight and wisdom. Dan Cathy, COO of Chick-fil-A, Inc. writes this in the forward of Elmore’s book, “We all have an influential role to play in nurturing this next generation.”

It is obvious that I am not an expert in this arena—quite the opposite—I feel I am right there with them … learning, growing, expanding my horizons so let’s consider what we Boomers have to offer Millennials:

1. Engage. Put down our iPhones and engage with them. While sitting in Barnes & Noble the other day writing … okay procrastinating and people watching … I observed several groups of people sitting together. But they were not talking to each other—they were engrossed in their phones. If we want to encourage this generation to dialogue with us … let’s put down our own technology and model an engaged spirit.

    

2. Listen. Did you know that nearly 70% of Millennials say that giving back and being civically engaged are their highest priorities? What do they want to see changed in our world? How would they go about doing that? Ask … and then listen.

    

3. Inspire. Become a transformational leader—focusing on followers—motivating them to high levels of performance, and in the process, help followers develop their own leadership potential (Ronald Riggio, Ph.D.).

This is going to be a learning ground for me as I not only have an opportunity to view incredible films and documentaries—but will also observe and participate in the Windrider Forum, where the Q&A honors and respects the work of each filmmaker, challenging filmmakers to dig deep into their soul—offering a platform for them to exquisitely define their art.

 

As I observe, engage, and participate this week—my hope is that I will come away understanding, loving, and respecting this next generation more greatly. And that together we will  build a bridge in this generational chasm and together continue to make our communities and country great.

 

Next post—from the mountains of Park City, Utah!