Are You Qualified?
It has been an interesting week. Given the state of the stock market and the economy in general that probably represents an understatement. It has been especially interesting to me based on a couple of experiences I have had. It hardly seems that they took place in the same week.
I made a couple of posts on LinkedIn as I typically do each week or so. The first was on the topic of the current presidential campaign and my "sadness" at the tone that some of the campaign rhetoric has taken on. In some cases the support on both sides is almost pathological. My point wasn't to support either candidate, but rather to lament resorting to character attacks on the part of either.
My second post was about where we "learn" leadership. Once again I got interesting responses ranging from "leadership is inherent in the DNA" to people that feel like the Bible or the Koran clearly lay out the expectations of leaders.
I also had a couple of "professional" discussions this week which caused me to pose my question. In one conversation we evolved into the debate about Gen X and Millenials. He was commenting that their expectations are too high and they aren't doing the "work" necessary to achieve their aspirations. I asked him if he was mentoring any of the young people in his firm and he responded that he would mentor them if they asked, but he would not proactively seek them out. So I said- "What if they don't know how to ask?"
My experiences with those generations has been different. I find them inquisitive, engaged, but frankly less patient based on what they saw their parents and grandparents experience. Their interpersonal skills have definitely been shaped by cell phones, the internet, and video games; but they do have an appetite to learn.
Then I had someone ask me why I believe I am "qualified" to do the work I do. He indicated that he had degrees and certifications that clearly "qualified" him, but I seem to be lacking those "credentials".
So what makes us "qualified"? Short of professions with a licensing requirement is there really a definitive test? Is is our track record, our "following" or some other set of criteria?
As usual I am going to retreat into the simplistic. I believe what makes us "qualified" is the trust and respect that others are willing to place in us. On my "short" list of qualifications for leaders I would include vision, clarity, and integrity. I have found that those elements are foundational to the most binding element in any relationship- the element of trust. Without trust we have nothing and trust cannot be demanded, it can only be earned.
So I would respond to my questioner that for now, what makes me "qualified" is the trust and respect that others have bestowed on me. It is a gift not a right and they may choose to withdraw it at any time.
I made a couple of posts on LinkedIn as I typically do each week or so. The first was on the topic of the current presidential campaign and my "sadness" at the tone that some of the campaign rhetoric has taken on. In some cases the support on both sides is almost pathological. My point wasn't to support either candidate, but rather to lament resorting to character attacks on the part of either.
My second post was about where we "learn" leadership. Once again I got interesting responses ranging from "leadership is inherent in the DNA" to people that feel like the Bible or the Koran clearly lay out the expectations of leaders.
I also had a couple of "professional" discussions this week which caused me to pose my question. In one conversation we evolved into the debate about Gen X and Millenials. He was commenting that their expectations are too high and they aren't doing the "work" necessary to achieve their aspirations. I asked him if he was mentoring any of the young people in his firm and he responded that he would mentor them if they asked, but he would not proactively seek them out. So I said- "What if they don't know how to ask?"
My experiences with those generations has been different. I find them inquisitive, engaged, but frankly less patient based on what they saw their parents and grandparents experience. Their interpersonal skills have definitely been shaped by cell phones, the internet, and video games; but they do have an appetite to learn.
Then I had someone ask me why I believe I am "qualified" to do the work I do. He indicated that he had degrees and certifications that clearly "qualified" him, but I seem to be lacking those "credentials".
So what makes us "qualified"? Short of professions with a licensing requirement is there really a definitive test? Is is our track record, our "following" or some other set of criteria?
As usual I am going to retreat into the simplistic. I believe what makes us "qualified" is the trust and respect that others are willing to place in us. On my "short" list of qualifications for leaders I would include vision, clarity, and integrity. I have found that those elements are foundational to the most binding element in any relationship- the element of trust. Without trust we have nothing and trust cannot be demanded, it can only be earned.
So I would respond to my questioner that for now, what makes me "qualified" is the trust and respect that others have bestowed on me. It is a gift not a right and they may choose to withdraw it at any time.
Labels: generations, Leadership, qualifications, trust
posted by Mark at New Paradigms LLC at
10:10 AM
9 Comments:
Mark,
Nice post - albeit I would add that what makes us qualified is that what we do that allows others to hold us in high regard of trust and respect. That provides the loyalty and friendship that is necessary to survive.
The gentlemen who commented on the younger set not doing what they needed to do is right on target and the problem isn't that he needs to mentor them - it is are they willing to accept the mentoring and take the necessary steps to become a valuable contributor - sometimes those who are not making the grade and don't know it - haven't earned enough experience to accept the lessons needed to move to the advance level - in their lives they were not made to do chores, the take care of anything, they possibly did not get allowance and have to save, so lessons that we were taught and made us responsible people that we are -
Just my humble opinion.
Ability to inspire based on demonstrable experience. High ethics, integrity and diligence.
Hello Mark and everyone--great discussion.
I believe we are all uniquely qualified just because we are human. We all have so much to offer!
I am spearheading a mentoring program here in Eugene that I call "Helping You, Helping Me" where we mentor each other. We will match up people who want to learn. Perhaps the older (50+) person wants to learn some computer skills from the under 30 person who uses computers and programs and it is like breathing to them. Perhaps the younger person wants to learn some valuable business etiquette or network from an older generation person.
This world keeps going faster and faster and is a more global world because of computers and the internet. Who knows more about this than the under 30 year old who grew up with it?
I think it is possible that those under 30 year olds think us over 50 year olds are a little slow. AND we probably thought the same thing about our elders except that the world sped up even faster.
So, how about we approach them but look to learn from them? How about some sharing of knowledge and skills? Why would we expect them to come over to our world when the world as we know it is changing?
I believe one of the reasons I have such a great relationship with my 28 year old son and 25 year old daughter is because as they were growing up we had regular dates and sometimes I would just listen to them. AND as time went on, they wanted to hear from me. They are both super neat, hard working people. (Okay I admit to a bit of prejudice here. But it’s true, ask anyone) AND I learn so much from them, their knowledge, and their viewpoints. AND they learn from me!
Not to generalize, but I have met some pretty dull, stuck people who have a higher degree. Well, what it tells me is that they know how and had the resources to go to school. I certainly don't think it makes them qualified.
I think we can have mini mentoring sessions every day. How about waiting in line at the grocery store during rush hour and instead of getting angry and impatient, we take that time to connect with someone in line next to us? Perhaps they can learn something from me but more importantly maybe I can learn something from them. AND then I can give the cashier some support and kudos for having to deal with hungry, angry, impatient folks.
Don't we all really want to connect with each other but we hide in our homes and wait for someone to approach us?
Okay, probably not my humble opinion as you all can see that I am pretty darn passionate about this topic.
Thanks for listening and take care!
Happy Friday!!
Elizabeth
today's young people are very different in some ways. they don't have the same attachments to many societal norms as other recent generations. they seem to think very differently.
i'll be 44 in a few weeks, but have spent a lot of time with 20-somethings in my travels. and many, whether they can articulate it so well or not, seem to believe that they were meant for something more than fitting into their fathers' and mothers' concepts of society.
and i think they're right. we'll see good things out of this and the following generations... ideas and ways of living that honor the imagination and individuality that we humans have supressed for sometime. it should be good...
sam
www.aliasjones.com
Mark,
Interesting week you have had! It is truly sad when we notice that the tone the politicians have elected to take during the campaign is bleeding out into our communities too. That is one form of influence (disguised as leadership) that is disturbing.
To your conversation with the gentleman who 'wouldn't invite' young people within his organization or community to be his protege is actually the most upsetting of all the comments you received. How can we knowingly discount youth and allow immaturity to flounder in the world? We (I believe) just as so many people before me did, have the gift of opportunity and even obligation to build up and impart knowledge to others. What a missed opportunity for all if we don't!
And then to your question... I agree with you that qualification when it is passed on or judged by another comes from the respect and trust that we hold for ourselves and others hold for us.
When we model the way we want to be treated, we hold ourselves as professionals, as kind beings, as willing to be of service and that builds our credibility. The other part comes from the way that we communicate and deliver our messages coupled with the follow-thru of our deliverable. It is in the action that others can begin to see into who we really are. Qualified is definitely subjective, not objective when we are talking beyond the 'duties' of a function or job.
Trust is earned and that builds respect, when people respect us the lines between subjective/objective begin to draw closer.
Here's to Modeling the Way!
Tammy
Thanks Sam and Tammy--beautifully said!
Kind Regards, Elizabeth
Yes, you are.
I work with many people with advanced degrees that make them technically "qualified" for their positions in management that cannot inspire, connect, create, own or collaborate with any degree of success among colleagues.
I think most people fear what they don't understand and young idealistic people are no exception. In general, my generation and the one after me are bored out of our minds working in a system that stifles creative thinking and engagement. We have limited patience for company red tape. If you want us to do something we want to know why. Not because we don't want to do it but because we are thinking of a better more efficient way to do it.
I have been told many, many times that I have to "pay my dues" before I can achieve my "aspirations."
Why would I pay my dues in a broken system? Why should I respect a company that lets it's management team walk all over it's employees? Why should I support wasteful company spending? Why try to conform us all to the "company culture" of meetings galore, the 8-5 day, office cubicles, and stale coffee? Who would want that?
I think companies need to take a hard look at themselves and their company culture to build a system younger generations would actually feel good about contributing too. We need to build a community (and business community) that encourages creative out of the box thinking, engagement, sustainability, conservation, exploration, collaboration and positive thinking.
On the topic of mentorship, my husband and I spend a lot of our free time contributing to Delta Tau Delta fraternity at the University of Oregon. We encourage the 70 young men to reach their "aspirations" and live Lives of Excellence. If this is a lazy, un-motivated, generation then I must be in the wrong place. These are top-notch young men who contribute to their school, house and communities every day. I get as much or more from them than they get from me, I’m sure. Part of me is excited to see the growth and potential each of them makes every year and the other part of me is sad to know that most of them will walk into companies that have little interest in embracing their talents to grow their companies. Instead, they opt for the tried and true path of letting them “pay their dues.”
Mark:
Thank you for always asking questions that encourage us to look deep within. In my opinion, the question you were asked about what qualifies you can be answered by your evaluating your experience and your true passion and desire. Many people hold certificates and degrees, which only indicates that they have the ablility to successfully pass courses. I have met many people who have a variety of high level degrees but are not truly passionate about what they do. I don't mean to give the impression that credentials are not important. They are a definite testament of the ability to accomplish a difficult task. However, I believe that experience and passion are essential to being truly "qualified".
Ahhhhh Jennifer, very well said. Thanks for sharing from your viewpoint of under 30 (if I remember correctly). I love your Passion!
I am reading a book right now entitled "A Whole New Mind" by Daniel Pink. It is excellent and speaks to the creative side. He says that we are moving into an age where we will be called on to use the "6 senses" Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play and Meaning.
Jennifer this will speak to you as a very creative person.
Happy Monday and Mark, again thanks for getting some beautiful dialog going and I will also chime in and say, "Yes, you are!"
Regards to all, Elizabeth
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