Generations at Work

We live in a society that loves to "binge" on things we like. These can be addictions to drugs or alcohol, but they can also be simple pleasures like Netflix, TikTok, or even junk food. There's a sort of "seesaw" or "teeter totter" inside our brains that goes up and down, releasing chemicals we need to remain stable. Feeling low, […]

Please be advised: The sound quality may be affected due to the podcast host and guest being in different locations. We still recommend that you listen to the amazing words of advice from our guest speaker because we believe it is incredibly relevant to the world we live in now. Thank you for your continuous support. Brett Hagler is […]

Often, students become interested in solving a problem; later, they identify as an activist; and eventually, they become a leader. It begins with the desire to "right a wrong" and soon becomes much bigger than merely acting as an individual. It becomes about influencing others. Thanks to social media, an act of kindness or service can multiply. In this episode, […]

When asked, "What is the most important thing that needs to be addressed when you think about this upcoming school year?" two subjects that rose to the top of the list for parents, teachers, and administrators were the safety of the school building and addressing students' mental health and emotional well-being. We all agree that mental health and emotional well-being […]

Dr. Jean Twenge is a Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University and is the author of several books including her latest entitled: "Generations: The Real Difference Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers and the Silent Generation." Dr. Twenge frequently gives talks and seminars on generational differences and technology. Her audiences have included college faculty and staff, parent […]

Today many educators, coaches, and leaders look for a "life hack" or fresh ideas on how to keep often distracted students engaged in the fun of learning. When we better engage students, we help them to perform better. In this episode, Tim and Andrew give practical advice on how to keep students engaged in a world of distractions. Find out […]

Content Warning: To skip the mention of suicide, jump to 5:36. As teachers, parents, coaches, and youth workers watch young people (Gen Z and Gen Alpha) grow up, they're seeing a distance in how they view life. Their perspective has evolved beyond where Gen X and Gen Y stood decades ago. These worldviews can be put into three categories: Pre-Modern […]

Jon Acuff is the New York Times bestselling author of nine books, including "Soundtracks," "Your New Playlist," and the Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller "Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done." When he's not writing or recording his popular podcast, "All It Takes Is a Goal," Acuff can be found on a stage as one of INC's Top 100 Leadership […]

Today we are experiencing a pandemic of loneliness. It's global. And one of our interns this summer has been on a personal journey to discover the "human side" of this epidemic we all keep talking about. Kiera Colson was an intern with us at Growing Leaders this summer, but she actually started partnering with us last fall when she […]

When we bake a chocolate cake, we know there are essential ingredients that make the recipe work. For that matter, baking or cooking anything tasty is not random. There are fundamental ingredients that must be added to reach a flavorful outcome. Similarly, when leaders cultivate healthy, young leaders out of students, there are four ingredients that always go into the […]

Daniel H. Pink is the author of five New York Times bestsellers, including his latest, The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. With Pink's signature blend of big ideas and practical takeaways, captivating stories and crisp humor, The Power of Regret offers an urgent and indispensable guide for a life well lived. His other books include the […]

The negative effects of smartphones and social media are being recognized by today's teens and many of them are not waiting for young adulthood to begin questioning the validity of their digital lifestyles. In this episode, Tim and Andrew talk about the many ways teens are starting to view their phones and how parents and educators can help to help […]

We all know that today's young people are distrusting institutions and leaders in greater numbers today than ever before. Often our individual preferences take precedence over the needs and preferences of those around us. Because of these realities, it can be difficult to know how to have conversations with them about the importance of the social world around them. In […]

Dr. Gary Davison is a successful high school administrator and K-12 teacher. In his 33 years of service to students, he has developed dozens of young leaders into executive-level positions within the field of education. His proteges are leading schools and school systems all over the country. In this episode, Tim and Gary discuss the lessons he's learned and some […]

When a person (who may or may not be in a leadership position) possesses capabilities, qualities, or skills that others don't have, they accumulate social capital. They earn influence. Their growing authority often has nothing to do with a badge or title. In this episode, Tim and Andrew discuss the rules for building social capital and how we help younger […]

You've probably heard of ChatGPT. It's been all the rage the first few months of 2023. It is an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot developed by Open AI that initially launched in November 2022, but had its stable launch on March 14, 2023. By January 2023, ChatGPT reached over 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application to date. In this episode, Tim and […]

In this episode, our very special guest Randy Hain is here to discuss his brand-new book, Upon Reflection: Helpful Insights and Timeless Lessons for Busy Professionals. In this interview, Randy offers timeless lessons and practical ideas on a myriad of topics drawn from his thirty-plus years of senior leadership, executive coaching, and consulting experience to help fuel the career success […]

While personal growth is important, the goal of social and emotional growth is greater than the benefits it gives young people in job qualification, behavioral improvements, or even academic performance. Soft skills are the beginning of the leadership journey for many young people. In this episode, Tim and Andrew discuss how social and emotional skills are not only for ourselves […]

You may be facing a combination of factors right now that have come together to create your very own version of whiteout conditions. Whiteout conditions are situations where a storm gets so bad that you can't see even a few feet in front of you. These conditions are most frustrating for leaders who have been previously successful in their roles […]

An identity crisis is defined as a period of uncertainty or confusion in a person's life and can occur when a person's sense of identity comes into question. These crises can happen in both the young and the old and the symptoms can include questioning your character, anxiety, unrest, altering your values and inclinations, and difficulty answering questions about yourself. […]

Please be advised: As we were recording this podcast, we unfortunately had a technical difficulty that could not be fixed behind the scenes. We apologize for the sound quality of this podcast. We still recommend that you listen to the amazing words of advice from our guest speaker because we believe it is incredibly relevant to the world we live […]

As leaders, we must demonstrate our compassion by walking alongside the young adults in our lives as they face consequences that may come from their actions, showing them our care and belief along the way. In this episode, Tim and Andrew review the case of Zion Brown and how the actions of the adults in his life demonstrate what it […]

Over the past few years, our department managers have hired people who are young, and we learned some valuable lessons along the way. Some of them were wrong hires. They weren't bad people, just not a fit for our organization. Others were a good fit, but leaders had to learn how to effectively communicate with them. Conversely, I often hear […]

Our 21st-century civilization conditions us to "hack" our way through life; to get behind the system and find shortcuts to make it work for us, faster and easier. In one sense, it feels like we're beating the system, a system that always seems against us. Looking for shortcuts is a natural and positive behavior for educated people—except for one thing. […]

A teen is programmed to break away from their parents. This is natural and healthy, but that doesn't make it any easier for a parent or teacher. We want to rescue. We are nurturers. We want them to be comfortable, safe, and happy. In this episode, Tim and Andrew give advice on how to stay involved in students' lives not […]

Children need chores to aid in their maturation process. For years, researchers have proven that when a kid connects the dots that each person in a family plays a responsible role in ensuring the group succeeds, it has several benefits. In this episode, Tim and Andrew discuss the benefits that having tasks and chores can have in a classroom at […]

Our shifting society has sparked tension between generations at work. Our problem is we've failed to recognize the value each generation brings to the team. We assumed that if one generation possesses valued expertise, the other cannot. The fact is each generation brings strengths to a team and they're different than the others. Our job is to capitalize on each […]

Our brains develop a little like wet cement. Our neural pathways are very pliable in our first twenty years and begin to solidify afterward. It isn't that people can't change as adults, it's just that change is more difficult as we age. Our world needs innovation, and at my age, most of that will come from the emerging generation, not […]

Everyone has witnessed the culture wars. People in our society seem polarized over values and social issues. While I believe those battles are real, there's a deeper issue at play that we have ignored. You might call it, "generational wars." It's happening every day in our workplaces. Good news: We now have an event that covers this topic for school […]

We view building social and emotional skills as an act of personal growth for kids and young adults all around the world. In fact, we believe students who cultivate emotional intelligence and social skills are more likely to be a positive influence on their world. They will be set up to solve problems and serve people. In this episode, Tim […]

As "Help Wanted" signs on the windows of many establishments today have become more prevalent, it is important to consider the qualities young job seekers should learn when entering the job market. Too often, young adults don't take entry-level positions because they feel those jobs are beneath them. In this episode, Tim and Andrew reflect on the early experiences that […]

Carey Nieuwhof is a bestselling leadership author, speaker, podcaster, and former attorney. He hosts one of today's most influential leadership podcasts. His podcast, blog, and online content is accessed by leaders over 1.5 million times each month. He speaks around the world about leadership, personal growth, and change. Check out more about Carey Nieuwhof here. Pick up a copy of […]

When kids are younger, parents often play the role of supervisor. They are right there on top of the issues. And they should be—young children need the support of their parents. As they age, parents must move to the role of consultants. Parents should still be involved and still be supportive but must allow kids to grow up and self-regulate. […]

The generational diversity we feel in our lives is not going away anytime soon. Because people are living and working longer, we will experience multiple generations on teams we may be a part of. To wish for a homogenous group of people to work with is wishing for a past that is long gone. In this episode, Tim and Andrew […]

It is difficult to live a meaningful life without clear goals. Goals give us purpose. They give us energy. They give us motivation. In this episode, Tim and Andrew highlight one of our habitudes called "The Foggy Day Effect" and give real-world action steps on how we can set and stick to the goals we want to achieve in life. […]

On Tuesday, May 31st at 12 noon ET, we will be hosting a webinar to launch our new eBook, "An Early Introduction to Generation Alpha." In this webinar, you will hear from Dr. Elmore about the first research we've gathered on Generation Alpha — the students born since 2016. After attending this webinar, you will receive a free copy of […]

The American population seems polarized into at least two major camps, and several sub-camps regarding politics, vaccinations, masks, and other issues. The pandemic has stolen nearly a million lives in the United States. The economy has felt like a yo-yo, spiking and then plummeting. When Generation Z observes how out-of-control everything feels, you can't blame them for feeling melancholy. In […]

When a family eats together, it demonstrates that family is the highest priority. While most agree with this, we often neglect it because we've jumped onto a hamster wheel, running to practices, rehearsals, games, recitals, and competitions. Rushing about together is not the same as pausing, eating, and interacting. We must avoid noise and clutter. In this episode, Tim and […]

When adolescents have nothing meaningful to do, they'll create their own meaning. This can be good news or bad news, depending on what they come up with. For too long, parents, teachers, and coaches have only offered facsimiles of real-world experiences to teens. We've been afraid our kids will get hurt, be unsafe, be unready, and fail; and consequently, sheltered […]

When someone establishes their boundaries, it is a trump card. What can anyone say to a person who declares they need to guard their time and mental health? Today, we all believe in boundaries. When we don't establish boundaries, we often sacrifice something that boundaries often protect. Both sacrifice and boundaries are essential but too much sacrifice often leads to […]

One of the saddest realities that surfaced from the COVID-19 pandemic was the loss of hope on the part of students. During this time of uncertainty, students are finding unhealthy and dangerous ways to cope. In this episode, Tim and Andrew explore the distinct relationship between resourcefulness and resiliency and present four messages students need to hear from their teachers […]

This past year, the theme of leadership was subtle but definitely present in many of the movies released in theaters and on streaming services. In this episode, Tim and Andrew offer you a list of the top leadership movies of 2021 and how we can all learn from them. Some are dramas, some are comedies, some are thrillers, and some […]

We live in a culture with so many options, so much going on every moment of the day, that we get distracted. Our smartphones cause FOMO (the fear of missing out). Social media causes FOMU (the fear of messing up). We endure self-imposed pressures to get so much done each day that we feel compelled to multitask. Technology has made […]

Despite the turmoil, disruption, volatility, and uncertainty, why do we see young adults becoming more, not less, audacious? In a time when we'd assume they might cower in fear of the unknown, they are speaking up, quitting jobs, and bucking well-known traditions. In this episode, Tim and Andrew explore why younger people are choosing control over caution in the new […]

People are resigning from their jobs in droves. By the millions. Inc. magazine reported on The Great Resignation, detailing the numbers; and they're staggering. In this episode, Tim and Andrew discuss the lasting effects of the Great Resignation and how we all can navigate it using examples from the ones who came before us.

Millions of teens and young adults in Generation Z have been given the expectation that life should be pleasant, rewarding, and even fun each day. And when it is not, someone should swoop in and make it better. In this episode, Tim and Andrew discuss ways that we can help children combat Cinderella Syndrome and prepare for the real world […]

What if instead of barring our students from engaging in social platforms, we were instead building in them the skills they need to make those decisions themselves? In the case of both competencies, the answer begins with a conversation. In this episode, Tim and Andrew explore what it looks like to build skills that will help students make better decisions […]

Anxiety has been normalized thanks to social media and the pandemic. Both children and adults can let stress get them down. But there is a difference between stress and pressure. In this episode, Tim and Andrew explore these differences and offer insight into why pressure can help others perform at their best.

Hello Podcast Listeners!You might have noticed some technical issues with the podcast the last couple of weeks. On certain podcast applications, including Apple Podcasts, the episodes were not downloading from our host platform. We apologize for the issues, but you should find that all of the podcast episodes are now working. Thanks for hanging in there with us as we […]

Our character is simply made up of the habits and attitudes we possess daily. Especially in the aftermath of a pandemic, where a new normal has been established, its wise to lay tracks that enable us to stay on course in our lives. In this episode, Tim and Andrew discuss the measures they take to prepare for the upcoming year […]