LEADERSHIP: LEARNING FROM NET GENERS

Published: 2008-11-26   please add a comment below

In 1997, Don Tapscott published "Growing up digital" - and coined the name "net generation" for the natives of the online world.  Now 11 years on, and after a two-year survey of 8,000 people (born 1978 to 1994) from across 12 countries, he's published "Grown up digital".  He concludes that on average Net Geners are smarter, quicker and more tolerant of diversity than the decrepit oldies like the Baby Boomers, let alone the dodos like me, familiarly known as Veterans.

I was born on the eve of the Second World War but am not retired.  I still keep busy consulting " and, running my online Leadership Action Planning tool.  So, I'm keen to know how something designed by a dodo aligns (or not) with Net Gener priorities.

Let's test this using the eight Net-Gen expectations Tapscott identifies: freedom and choice; ability to customise/personalise; capacity to scrutinise; integrity and openness; entertainment and play (as part of work); collaboration; speed; and, constant innovation.

Well, I feel V|E|C|T|O|R (my planning framework) aligns pretty well.  It empowers a leader to develop his/her own plan - not take some pre-mixed formula.  It's personal - and customised to the needs of those being led and the current business challenges.  Leaders are encouraged to test and share their plans with colleagues.  And, the viewpoint of others underpins the whole process.  Like most things online, it's pretty quick and plans can be updated, as needed.  And yes, V|E|C|T|O|R highlights innovation, and also the importance of fun and celebration at work!

Which all raises a question: am I talking about Net Geners as people being led, or as leaders themselves.  Interestingly, Tapscott's findings suggest to me that Net Geners will be better leaders than their predecessors.  Openness, flexibility and their other norms are just what many older leaders need to learn.  Next Geners may well be the new natives of corporate leadership - as well as natives of the online world.

As an aside, of 20 senior executives participating in a recent client strategy session I ran, the one with greatest peer-standing was all of 24!

Learn from him and other Net Geners.  How?  Try V|E|C|T|O|R Leadership®!

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Dr. Timothy Pascoe AM
PhD (Cambridge), MBA (Harvard), BE & BEc (Adelaide)
Creator, V|E|C|T|O|R Leadership^®

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