A weekly thought for leaders with the courage to introspect.
Young CEO's and what we can learn from them!
โAre CEOs getting younger?โ I was recently asked that question three times in one week. By Gerard, Niek and Tom, three of my mentees (fictitious names). All three are in their mid-forties, early fifties and work at real family businesses.
And yes, their observation is correct. CEOs really are getting younger.
In my active network, most CEOs are still somewhere between 50 and 55. White men, often with an economic or commercial background. Highly educated, familiar with the beaten track. But many of them are now stuck. I write about that in other blogs.
When I first started as a business mentor, directors were often around 60. The reconstruction generation. Self-made. Started with nothing. And often left with their heads held high for the golf club.
The current generation of Gerard, Niek and Tom has different issues.
But even more interesting is the emergence of a whole new generation of CEOs: in their twenties and thirties, some of whom still live in student rooms.
They are different. Not only younger, but also more open, more direct, more brutal.
They think in systems and solutions, not in boxes.
Their leadership is informal, their communication digital.
They are diverse. Their names are Madelief, Stanley, Gregory, Mike.
And they have guts.
They are the driving force behind change.
Maybe that feels exciting. Maybe even a little threatening.
But look at yourself: you too did things differently than your predecessor at the time.
This young generation has something we didn't have:
โ Direct access to the world.
โ A natural digital mindset.
โ And the conviction that things have to be different.
Don't resist. Let them in. Give them space. And learn from them.
They know more than you in some areas. And at the same time:
You know more than they do in other areas.
That is not a contradiction. That is cooperation.
The future belongs to this new generation.
Your experience is the bridge to their success.
—
The space between the words is where insight arises.
Until next week when our thoughts touch again.
Hans Ruinemans, Boardroom Monk โฏ๏ธ