Why It’s Crucial to Bridge Generational Wisdom in the Digital Era
In the world of business, building an online presence can feel like a daunting quest, akin to a video game adventure. Imagine collecting resources, battling creatures, and ultimately confronting terrifying monsters—except in this game, the monsters are the challenges of the digital age. Unlike a video game, in business, you don’t always know who the monsters are or what skills you’ll need to conquer them.
One of the biggest monsters in modern-day business is the online digital world. Your credibility often hinges on having a robust digital presence. In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of strategically delegating tasks to build a sustainable online footprint, especially for small business owners who are just starting out or need to enhance their digital presence.
Assessing Generational Bandwidth:
To illustrate the importance of generational collaboration, let’s look at a real-life example. I had the opportunity to work with my mom on her company, DeezBeanz, a fully customizable coffee bean fundraiser business operating entirely online. To streamline the process for our customers, we relied on various digital tools:
• Marketing: Facebook Business Suite, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, GoDaddy
• Designing: Canva, JotForm
• Systems: Gmail, Zapier, Notion
My mom, in her late 50s, isn’t technologically averse, but she needed assistance due to the ever-evolving nature of these tools. It’s like going to your local grocery store and finding your favorite items rearranged every time you visit. At a certain point, I wished we had a younger team member who could navigate these tools effortlessly, allowing me to focus on other aspects of the business.
As a millennial, my focus is naturally shifting towards preparing for a family and advancing my career. Which then made me realize.. why arent our kids in school (high school and college age) here learning this stuff with us. Understanding how to really pave your own way in this life with all of the tools. Using their current bandwidth in their stage of life to benefit each other.
This made me realize the importance of delegating tasks while considering the strengths and weaknesses of different generations.
The truth is, the digital world doesn’t come naturally to baby boomers and Gen X. Moreover, boomers are entering grandparenthood, while Gen X is rediscovering their individuality and enjoying life’s various aspects. These generations play a crucial role in society, as they have the resources to solve problems and start businesses.
However, for many, marketing in the digital realm poses a significant barrier.
Unlocking the Potential of All the Generations:
Many of our clients fall into the Gen X category and share some insecurities about navigating the digital landscape. If you can relate to these feelings, consider redirecting your energy towards only understanding which tools to use and when to delegate tasks not the foundation and execution of them.
It’s not your job to do it all; your role is vital in mentoring and directing younger generations.
Can you move as swiftly as a 17-year-old with an Instagram account? Or a 25-year-old who grew up with Instagram, knowing its strategies inside out? Probably not. So, think carefully about who you entrust with tasks and don’t rely solely on familiar strategies.
Balancing Personalities for a Productive Team:
As you scale your business, it’s crucial to consider how different personalities impact your team dynamics. Having too many dominant personalities can hinder productivity, just as an excess of passive personalities can stress team leaders. There’s a delicate balance required.
One approach to achieving this balance is implementing personality tests. For example, the DISC personality assessment can help you understand your team better. Websites like Crystalknows.com can analyze LinkedIn profiles to provide insights into personalities. Surprisingly, only about 5% of companies attach personality test results to resumes during the hiring process.
Optimizing Your Team:
By implementing personality tests, either before expanding your team or with your current members, you can:
1. Gauge the bandwidth of your team and individual players. This allows you to assign tasks based on whether someone is people-oriented or task-oriented.
2. Optimize your strategies by leveraging strengths and addressing weaknesses. For example, if you have a team with many dominant personalities, you can adjust how they collaborate to allow for more autonomy.
3. Set more realistic and attainable goals based on your team’s unique composition.
In our work with clients, this strategy helps us better understand the team’s dynamics and set more achievable goals. It’s all about finding the right balance between generations and personalities to future-proof your business.
In conclusion, bridging the gap between Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z can create a powerful team with diverse skill sets to scale your business efficiently. Delegating tasks based on generational strengths and embracing personality assessments can help you achieve sustainable growth and give Gen X more time to enjoy life outside of work. Remember, each generation has a unique role to play in the modern era’s tribe.
