Do you find yourself thinking
- We must get younger faster,
- We are at a tipping point, or
- We have to change in order to survive.
These are the kinds of comments I hear from clients and audiences these days. And no wonder. In generational terms, we have entered a 4th Turning, when everything feels more urgent.
Once in a Lifetime
Generational studies reveal that every 80 years or so we cycle through a period when change suddenly accelerates. The "new normal" becomes disruption. This 4th Turning was kicked off by the Digital Revolution, and we are still in the midst of it!
What does this mean for you and your company? Basically this: all of us must explore new business models, new ways of creating value.
Are You Feeling the Pressure as Generations Shift? Find Out. Take the Quiz.
New Economies, New Values
Consider the Share Economy, Gig Economy, Experience Economy, the Impact Economy and the Information Economy. Does your business model take them into account?
Uber, Lyft and AirB&B are massive examples of the Share Economy. Meanwhile, more of us join the Gig Economy every year; and as for the Experience Economy look no further than the disrupted insurance industry where young generations seek to protect experiences, but not much in the way of stuff. Meanwhile the Impact Economy is likely to be showing up in your workforce. Millennial employees want to see an impact from the work they do. If they don't, you can easily lose them.
Finally, we all know about the value of Information. New trends include the value of personal information, and the new model in which information gains value from being shared rather than hoarded.
Navigate Change. Grow Your Gen IQ.
Accelerated change is tied to generational shift. 4th Turnings occur when a big, polarized generation like Boomers is moving out of power and a smaller, more pragmatic generation like Gen X is takes the lead. More about this in my uncoming book about Gen IQ.
In the end, none of us can predict exactly will happen during this 4th Turning, but we can use Generational Intelligence to predict and prepare. A good place to start is by figuring out what young generations mean for your company and your industry.
These keynotes can help:
The Disruption of Gen Z
Unlock Millennial Potential
Amy Lynch
President of Generational Edge, Amy Lynch has written and spoken about the generations for 15 years. She has spoken to 100s of groups from MTV and Comcast to Boeing, J&J and the staff of the U.S. Senate. Amy has been quoted in national publications, including The Washington Post, USA Today, Boston Globe, Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune and NBC Evening News, among others.
Contact her about keyntoes, training or consulting.