The Lions are running too fast: Time to switch batons between the older and the younger generation
Today, I write a featured article on a sensitive attitude that has been a bane to our individual developments first of all, and has consequently spilled over to cripple our societal and institutional development. The article is premised on a story the passionate and inspirational keynote speaker, Jeff Staes told me during one of our mentoring sessions. A simple story but inherently pregnant with amazing deep thoughts that I couldn’t keep to myself but to give it space on Kwame Obeng’s Diary for my readers to learn a lesson or two. The rationale is to challenge us to constantly work on ourselves in being current with the increasing dynamics of the changing globe and also, to give others the chance to be discovered by putting to work, their inherent abilities. So come up with me hither…
The Story
Once upon a time, a hunter came home from the hunt and gave his spear to his son. He told him: “Son, it is your turn to hunt now, because the lions run too fast for me.” This simple but wise gesture had a tremendous impact on the son, the hunter and the hunter’s family. If the hunter had kept on hunting, he would eventually have come home without food for his family. By handing on the spear, he gives new talent a chance. He passes on his experience and wisdom, whilst at the same time earning the respect of his son and the rest of his relatives. Survival of the entire family (himself included) is more important than his personal status as a hunter.
Now, my first rhetorical question, “how many hunters (unproductive old generation) can undertake this humbling gesture?”
Explanation
In the modern world today, it seems that we have forgotten this ‘generation pact’, because we live with the illusion that we will always be safe because, our old experiences will always see us through. Even the oldest hunter thinks that he can always find enough food to help his family or society to survive. We think that, we can end our professional career on the highest rung of the ladder without any problem. This seems to be the thoughts of most of us, but we seldom realize how much hunting talent we are holding back with our selfishness – even though the young are ready to hunt and can actually now hunt better than us.
New Competitors
The truth is that, we do not live in the ordinary days of yester years where things are always the same and one can predict what will ensue in the unseen future. Some of the things which used to be, are no longer and what is, will no longer be!
In business, new competitors are starting to use sources of energy which we once thought were exclusively at our disposal. They are delivering products and services to customers who we once thought were exclusively ours. This did not happen overnight – or without warning.
But as old hunters, we did not want to see the danger. We only lived for reaching – and keeping – the highest position in the hierarchy. We have lost sight of the need for ‘collective’ survival.
Institutions Today, under Pressure
Our institutions today, has slowly become an arena under pressure. Part of the problem is that we fail to stimulate flexible promotion for people with ‘the right skills’. Our natural ‘skills life cycle’ has ceased to function – the progress of the young is blocked by a rusty phalanx of senior managers and experts. Even the institutions of education, social profit, our own carved unions, politics and public institutions fall victim to this phenomenon. Those at the top rely on a false sense of security – ‘older generation’.
The spears are passed down to the next generation far too slowly.
What now? A new generation pact is unavoidable: a project to encourage an influx of the right talents, abilities and skills. If this happens, it could also provide solutions to other challenges as well. More women will be promoted, more young talent, more immigrant talent, more physically disabled talent – perhaps even older, as yet unused, talent. Who knows?
Every generation has a role
Does this mean that we should push aside and dismiss the older generation in its entirety? Absolutely not. In this new generation pact, older people in the ‘wrong’ role will evolve into a different role. Even the transition from an active career to more free time can happen in a balanced way – or did you think that the hunter who passes down his spear has nothing to do anymore?
Can it be done differently? No, it has to be done differently – because the lions are running faster.
No more time to waste…
