I had the opportunity to attend the Bellingham YWCA’s 16th annual leadership breakfast earlier this month. Every year, and despite the recent economic conditions, the organization does an admirable job of filling the ballroom at the Lakeway Inn with friends of the YWCA. This year was no exception, with 325 in attendance from all sectors of the community – business, local government, academia and the community at large.
Keynote speaker for the event was political and communications strategist Cathy Allen, founder of Seattle-based The Connections Group. Her topic: “How to be a 21st Century Suffragette.”
Allen, who has worked to get women elected throughout the world, including the Middle East, knows a thing or two about mobilizing folks to get out and vote, and many of her observations regarding energizing the younger generation to be politically active can apply to business as well.
No longer is mentoring a simple informational interview and a few job leads, notes Allen, but a true partnership. Hire, respect and give young workers a genuine opportunity to make a difference in your organization, she suggests.
Also realize the younger generation doesn’t necessarily want to be tied to a long-term commitment, such as becoming a member of Rotary, but prefers finite time commitments such as working on a specific volunteer project.
I think Allen’s comments ring true. Young people are great at multi-tasking and using technology to their advantage. They may do things differently than older generations, but given the proper expectations, they can get the job done.
I’ve found a lot of personal satisfaction in the mentoring relationships I’ve had with WWU students. Their knowledge and skills benefitted the magazine, and in turn their experiences here helped in their future job searches.
Whether running a business or nonprofit, establishing a partnership with younger generations can bring a new ideas and a burst of energy into your organization.