Without a doubt, the generation gap is the largest ever seen in history. The countless pieces of information available at the click of a button accelerate maturation – but not always in the most appropriate way – in the lives of children, teenagers, adolescents, and young adults. Leaders of the 21st century cannot close their eyes to this fact and deny that we live in an era that demands balance, boldness, creativity, and a willingness to engage with new generations.
Identity of new generations
With the technological revolution of the 90s came increasingly diverse ideological thoughts compared to previous decades, a more democratic political structure was established, and new generations emerged. As a consequence of this great change, some behavioral factors also changed, such as: the way of relating to others, the way of solving problems, the school environment, the church, and the way of seeing the world, thus bringing about a significant separation between generations. Today, we have individuals whose identity is entirely shaped and mediated by new technologies; these are the so-called digital natives.
Generation Y and Generation Z. (PLACE IN SEPARATE BOX)
This group of people, born between 1978 and 1992, has a strong familiarity with technology and immediacy as defining characteristics. They are people who seek interactivity, like to multitask, and value the "today".
Generation Z is defined by those born from 1993 onwards, also called Zs, Zees, or Zeds. They are recognized as digital natives; they are young people who were practically born with a smartphone, tablet, iPad, cell phone, among other technologies, in their hands, and they handle these technologies very well. For them, multitasking is absolutely normal. This generation has a language based on the digital world, whether in video games or on the internet.
The spirituality factor
It is necessary to grapple with the impressive speed of technological, spiritual, and social changes that define this era, raising the need for leaders who transmit a faith that is consistent in this new context. The great spiritual battle of this generation is to remain steadfast in faith even in an exhausting and frenetic context of expanding accessibility, weakening of family, ecclesiastical, and governmental authority, as well as increasing relational and institutional alienation. The challenge for this generation is to heed Jesus' guidance described in the Gospel of John, chapter 17, to "be in the world, but not of the world," given that the current moment in history poses a great threat to the spirituality of this generation and future generations.
The spiritual solidity of this generation depends on three central areas: a relationship that fosters interaction between generations, reducing the negative impact of diversity; the implementation of a missionary purpose for vocational or professional practice (law, health, accounting, technology, education, among others), guiding a way to serve God within professional activity; and finally, the pursuit of wisdom rather than the pursuit of information.
Valuing wisdom more, as it is written in Proverbs 9:10: “ the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” can be understood as the spiritual, mental, and emotional capacity to relate to God, to others, and to our culture. This means transforming the superficial condition of many young people of the new generation, for they admire the words and works of Jesus, but do not know Him as Lord. They read and respect the Bible, but do not realize that the Word demands obedience. The pursuit of wisdom is a lifelong process of profound transformation through faith in Christ, knowledge of God's word, and communion with God and other Christians, and not simply memorizing a list of dos and don'ts or just praying, fulfilling weekly programs, or signing a commitment form.
The preservation of a firm and profound spirituality originates from a church with leaders who adapt their disciple-making methods, focusing on the need for the Christian and missionary calling and vocation, and prioritizing the pursuit of God, the knowledge of God, and the wisdom that comes from the fear of the Lord. Union with Christ has dependence as the strongest bond between man and God, leading to a direction where one can be certain of never falling again; however, these bonds of firmness and security are maintained only through fervent prayer and tireless effort.
In her book Messages to Young People, Ellen G. White states: “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love…for if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ . ”
Generation Y (18-30 years old) has been labeled many things: narcissistic, lazy, materialistic… How about “teachable”?
As this new generation of teenagers graduates from high school and makes life decisions—choosing colleges, careers, even spouses—many of them would really appreciate a mentor.
In this recent Digiday article, Jack Marshall suggests that millennials value mentorship. They prefer personal guidance and interaction to formal training. Unfortunately, executives at most companies simply don't have the time to spend with their junior employees.
David Carrillo's research agency states: "If you want to get the most out of millennials, you have to demonstrate a personal interest in their growth and development ." This younger generation wants dialogue and consistent feedback.
I find it funny when the business world is starting to discover what youth ministers and parents have been observing for years: individualized time with our children reaps great rewards!
Yes, some argue that young people today don't want to be told what to do. This, like many other myths related to millennials, seems to be more of a "stage of life" than a generational trait. In fact, I've found that this group can become very approachable if you invest in them. Author Tony Wagner agrees, suggesting that we need to put on our coaching hats with this new generation, working cooperatively with them, including delegating responsibilities. They value attention because they want to succeed. And when we invest in them, they "produce extraordinary results."
Here are three tips to help parents, coaches, young workers, and managers unlock the full potential of this new generation:
1. Make "face-to-face" time a priority.
Young people love communication, and nothing impacts them more than face-to-face time—that is, individual discipleship. I believe the best way to train young people, or disciple them and develop leadership skills, is by connecting personally with each one of them. Parents can attest to the effectiveness of this methodology. In addition to all the hangout time I spend each week with my daughters, I go out with each of them for breakfast or coffee at least once a week. This is a regularly scheduled date. The best conversations I've had with my daughters have occurred during this time.
2. Use your smartphone , then turn it off.
This new generation loves their smartphones . Now that most of them own these little gadgets , use text messages and social media to stay in touch with this generation, but not as a substitute for face-to-face time. In my book, *The New Breed*, I discuss the importance of knowing when to use Facebook and when to use personal conversation to mentor this new generation of volunteers. Personally, I like to use my smartphone to stay in touch with young people, even my own children, but then I reach out to them in person, turn off my phone, get rid of any distractions around me, look them in the eye, and… listen. (NOTE: Organizations should have clear guidelines on appropriate communication between mentors and youth. Technology is not taboo for connecting with children, but good guardrails should be in place.)
3. Look for opportunities for encouragement.
Does this seem obvious? Then why has this very point been neglected so much at home and in the workplace? This new generation craves feedback , and just as they need to be corrected, we can't forget to praise them for their daily tasks and express how much we appreciate them. I learned this the hard way, with a young Millennial intern a few years ago. She did a project, got 97 things right and only three wrong. I spent most of our time talking about the three wrong things, ignoring the 97 right ones. Don't ignore the 97! There's nothing wrong with talking about areas for improvement, but start by giving positive feedback . Send short appreciation notes. Give them specific feedback like, “Great work on yesterday's report. I loved your honey badger example in the second paragraph!”
The world is not succinct in providing negative generalizations about this new generation, and there is definitely some truth to those accusations. But the real question is… are you willing to invest in them? Because what most research is showing is that when you invest in this generation, they prove that your time was well spent.
Digital Natives vs. Digital Immigrants
Marc Prensky, one of the most renowned scholars in the field of education and technology , pioneered the terms "digital natives vs. digital immigrants." He initiated the search for an understanding of this new generation that the world came to know, according to him, from the end of the 80s with the beginning of new technologies – which today, in our view, seem so outdated and old. According to him, society is now divided into two groups: " digital natives" are those who are born into the technological world and don't need to go far to learn what new technologies have to teach. The second group are called " immigrants" because they are people who are not so familiar with this technological language and still have difficulty understanding what new technologies have to offer.
The fact is that people are changing along with the world, and it's noticeable not only the generation gap but also a transformation in how people see the world. The advantage of such rapid change is the knowledge and integration that is increasingly accessible to everyone, which, on the other hand, generates a generational conflict that leaders need to know how to deal with.
Staying constantly updated on life-giving knowledge, whether you're a digital native leader or a digital immigrant, will make all the difference in how this gap can be bridged. Leaders need to understand that "the key to restoring the balance needed for these new times lies in the relationship between generations."
God created man with an impressive creative capacity. It is necessary to keep up with the dynamics of life but maintain principles. Innovating to grow is a capacity that God gave to humanity to be used for the growth of His kingdom.
Connected leaders
A question that leaders working in this era of extreme ease of access to information and environments dominated by social networks and media should be asking is: What is the best method for leading new generations? Thousands of young people have left the ranks of the church, including young people who were born into a Christian context, and this has been a great challenge for leaders and parents in the struggle to retain these individuals.
A single edition of the New York Times contains more information than a person received in their entire life 300 years ago. And today, through texts, messages, and data exchange, a person is capable of communicating six complete newspapers a day! With so much information being consumed, and without much guidance or filtering, young people end up expecting the same dynamics from their leaders that they are accustomed to.
We need to look to Christ, “who became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14), and left us the greatest example of leadership. This principle, used by the master of masters, alerts us to the fact that He, as the greatest leader, was highly connected with man, in order to understand him and consequently save him.
Using Christ's method is the most effective way to lead new generations. Ellen White says:
“Only Christ’s methods will bring true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He commanded, ‘Follow Me.’ John 21:19.”
The leader for this time needs, more than ever, to follow in the Master's footsteps:
- Follow the model – it is not our methods that will bring success. Everything we receive comes from above (James 1:17), including the ability to lead. Depending on Christ is an acknowledgment of our insignificance in the face of this challenging work.
- Engage with young people: you can't lead from a distance. Leadership is face-to-face, it's a transfer of life; leadership is discipleship. Understanding the theory is important, but young people expect leaders who show interest in them as someone who wants what's best for them.
- Show empathy – people need love. That's the greatest weapon to bridge the generation gap. Don't incite criticism simply because things were different in your time. You were young once, and certainly many things were different in your youth compared to your grandparents' time.
- Understand their needs – get to know the modern world (technology, networks and social media, etc.). Strive to understand them deeply so you can help them in the best way possible. Always ask yourself: "Why do they use this?", "What do they want to show?", "What do they want to say?". The number of young people with depression, anxiety, and addictions is growing alarmingly. Understanding them would allow us to more effectively address their needs.
- Cultivate trust – when a leader gains the trust of their followers, they can then influence them in the best possible way.
- Be an example – in response to the steps mentioned above, your team members will be ready to follow you, thus eliminating generational divides. Prepare them to fulfill the mission.
Great strategies are valid. Using creativity is even better. Producing with excellence is wonderful. But bridging the generation gap will only happen through truly converted hearts that love the ministry they serve.
Social media and social networks as tools for leadership.
Technological innovations contribute to a scenario where social media is part of the daily lives of many people worldwide, and as a result, these tools represent great opportunities for influence for those in leadership positions. Some simple steps can be taken to facilitate leaders' integration into social networks; these include:
Being yourself and not trying to create a persona is the first step towards good interaction, creating a comfortable and honest virtual atmosphere. Communicating your true values through your posts is another fundamental action, and a leader should n't feel obligated to interact excessively; because, in this universe, the quality of the message should always be prioritized over the quantity of posts.
social networks
A social network is characterized, above all, by its horizontality: there is no large sender producing content for a wide range of receivers; on the contrary, content production is carried out by all members of the network, who influence each other. "Social media" is a means by which a given social network communicates; that is, they are platforms that enable interaction between these specific groups of people through sharing.
The digital environment is not a parallel or purely virtual world, but is part of the daily reality of many people, especially younger ones. One of the leader's goals is to connect with this significant portion of the faithful through this environment.
Encouraging young people by asking for suggestions and initiating real dialogues on social media is another great opportunity for influence – and leaders who work with this type of tool should take special care in developing a well-built and structured page, considering that factors such as slowness and visual clutter on websites can hinder user loyalty and interest.
Viewing social media as an ally, rather than an unknown environment, is also very valuable; allowing familiarity with the tools to develop naturally, helping you to boost performance and follower satisfaction.
What to do on social media
Many youth leaders are aware of the benefits of social media for their strategy of engaging young people in church activities. However, many of them, even at the top of the hierarchy, remain absent from new media.
According to the website “Pense Marketing Digital”, founded by Pedro Quintanilha, social media are spaces for interaction between users in the virtual environment. Examples of social media include: blogs, microblogs (Twitter), social networks (Facebook), forums, wikis , instant messengers , e-groups , and multimedia content sharing sites (YouTube, Flickr, Slideshare, Vimeo).
A study conducted by the American consulting firm bandfog, "2013 CEO, Social Media and Leadership," showed that more than 80% of people consider it important for CEOs to engage with customers on social media. Furthermore, more than half of the survey participants stated that social media engagement makes CEOs more effective leaders. Some leaders still think social media is a passing fad. They are unsure if it will last, if it's just a trend or a bubble that could burst at any moment, because people are shocked by the data on its influence, and some institutions have stopped distributing email accounts. Instead, these institutions are now distributing iPads, e-readers, and tablets. All because they are convinced that social media is such a pervasive force in the world that we cannot ignore it.
It is undeniable that the participation of youth leaders in social media involves a significant time commitment and a certain degree of risk stemming from overexposure, but it is a fact that leaders in the coming years will need to include among their skills the ability to strategically present their own image and name on these platforms. Increasingly, young people expect their leaders to be present in the virtual environment, endorsing the church's actions with their image.
#1. Don't use social media as spam.
If there's one thing users hate most about social media, it's advertising. Many young people are even leaving Facebook because of the excessive amount of ads. So don't be a nuisance, and remember that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social network should be used to tell your story, generate content, and bring young people closer to the church.
#2. Don't use social media to promote yourself.
Do you know how unbearable it is to be at a party talking to that self-centered person who only talks about themselves? Leaders need to treat social media like one of those parties. To be engaging, you must be genuinely interested in others and you absolutely cannot dominate the conversation.
What does this mean? Make it easy for people to comment on your blog, try to engage people who post on your wall, share interesting content from other sources, ask questions, and encourage participation. And most importantly: recognize that sometimes it's better to talk less and listen more.
#3. Don't just do the basics.
Social media has come a long way since its launch. Even the most recent platforms are constantly evolving with new features. Yet, many of us ignore these developments and simply maintain the same posting style, day after day.
Are you familiar with the features of the social media platforms you use? Are you up-to-date on what each platform offers your blog? If not, you may be missing valuable opportunities to promote your content to your readers.
#4. You don't need to be everywhere.
There are two things to remember when it comes to social media: first, there will always be a new social network to join; second, a youth leader doesn't have unlimited time to dedicate to all social media platforms.
Fortunately, to make good use of these tools, it's not necessary to dedicate yourself entirely to being present on every existing social network. It's more important to choose two or three to focus your attention on and reach young people.
Remember that an untapped social media presence is harmful and can negatively impact your ministry. It's better not to have any account at all if you don't have time to manage and participate in the network.
#5. Not posting consistently throughout the day
This is a big problem. There are better and worse times to share on social media. If you're keen to understand your followers' behavior on social media, you need to know when your audience is most active and online.
#6. Don't give up your principles.
Always strive to align your online strategy with your principles and bring positive things to your followers, so that your online community is strengthened and your reputation is that of a leader highly involved in what you do. Otherwise, social media, instead of being an ally, can become an enemy of your digital presence.
#7. Respond to contacts
While you can't connect with everyone on every network, if you want to build an online presence you need to focus on responding to other people's contacts on social media.
Avoid a standard response template and look for ways to easily connect with each person who approaches you so that you can enjoy the real benefits of social media.
Youth leaders need to recognize that their involvement in the means used by young people to bridge the generation gap is paramount. For, like Christ, our greatest leader, we must seek out those we lead, live among them, understand their world, and help them on their journey to heaven. Reflect on this personally and consider whether you are prepared to lead the new generations.
Always try to align your online strategy with something that is consistent with your principles and brings positive things to your followers.
It's not the number of followers, but the intentionality of interacting with the young people in your church through social media and personal encounters that will make the difference. Leaders should build friendly relationships with youth everywhere.
