A lot of recent media focus has been on how Boomers (b. 1943-1960) are facing a more sparse retirement, and Millennials (b. 1982-2001) are facing the start line of their careers.
Missing from many media discussions is the smaller, in-between generation, Gen X (b. 1961-1981). You know them as today's 30 and 40 somethings.
They started their careers in the dream-crushing 1980s when 3.7 million people were "reengineered" out of jobs. They adjusted. With the corporate ladder shattered, Xers became America's first "free agent" generation. They were comfortable with technology, didn't expect corporate safety nets, and didn't need parental supervision.
Gen Xers built Google and Yahoo, got MBAs, started most Young Professionals Organizations, and recently, one of them became America's first black President.
The generation born between 1961 and 1981 are the current and emerging leaders in every single developed country. And yet few people are talking about how Gen Xers will lead in a post Great Recession world. Here's one bet, based on our research of the past eleven years:
Skepticism becomes pragmatism.Gen Xers were raised to be skeptics. They were warned not to trust "Stranger Danger." They stared at the faces of missing children on milk cartons while gulping down their breakfast cereal. They saw more than half of their friends' parents get divorced, and were warned that there may be razor blades in their trick-or-treat candy.
Unchecked, skepticism becomes cynicism. And many Xers - especially some bloggers and haters - carved niches for themselves in that cynical space.
To be leaders, Xers must channel their ingrained skepticism away from cynicism and towards pragmatism, the ruthless pursuit of what works. Now, more than ever, we need people who'll look beyond good ideas or traditional D vs. R political agendas and ask, "What works?"
Xers are incredibly well positioned to do just that. They don't buy phony promises. They can smell a shyster from one hundred paces. And they're past the point in their lives where they can afford folly. Gen Xers are becoming parents, homeowners and the next-in-line within their workplaces. They're inheriting a giant economic and environmental shit storm.
They need to find what works, if they're going to lead us out of this recession. Lucky for us, Gen Xers still have enough skin in the game to give a damn, and enough experience to bring some subject matter expertise to the conversation.
Catch up with Rebecca at the Next Leaders Summit in Cincinnati September 17-19th. Learn more here!