The Correlation: How Generational Research Can Benefit The Nonprofit Sector (Including Churches)

The Correlation: How Generational Research Can Benefit The Nonprofit Sector (Including Churches)

The problem

For decades, the nonprofit sector has enjoyed a “question free” existence. In other words, people gave, participated and supported without any questions. They assumed that their efforts would be rewarded and the organizations would continue to thrive. Particularly in church, parishioners believed in the words from their pastors and adjusted accordingly. The Third Sector would enjoy this blissful existence for a long time until the emergence of the internet. It is my belief that people always had questions just no evidence to validate a revolution. The internet created the means by which to question the very foundation of faith or “good works”. Fast forward about eighteen years, this sector is at a crossroad. How do you rebrand a faith movement and still hold on to the principles and ideologies from the old regime? Or How do you repackage a paradigm of thought that doesn’t encompass the different generations?

Generation Leadership

How do we correct this issue or better yet how do we improve the state of this sector? It’s time that Third Sector leaders take the time to study their craft. They must lose the mindset that they are somehow exempt from perfecting their craft and learn to balance. The Bible should definitely be a foundation but leadership education should also be intermingled in there. In the coming month, I will be introducing a new theory called “Calculated Conflict”. At its core, Generational Leadership is a cornerstone. Generational Leadership, takes a deeper look at the attributes, behaviors and beliefs of each generation. It provides leaders with a greater insight into the different age groups and gives them a less vague concept of what each group needs to be productive. The grouping of age crosses all boundaries, ethnicities, orientation, and beliefs.  Possessing this kind of insight, leaders will be able to operate less in blanket management and more into true leadership. Blanket management is the practice of using the same method of leadership on a diverse group of people. It is the “death” of good leadership because it negates the due diligence of a true leader to discover the authentic needs of their subordinates. A good leader strives to perfect their understanding of the direct needs of their subordinates and they attempt to meet those needs.

Generational Leadership looks at the different generations (Baby Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y and Millennials) and gives a leader an outlook on their individual communities. Particularly for nonprofits, it can aide leaders in better packaging rewards, incentives and programs. For churches, it helps to create a blended atmosphere by which parishioners can thrive. For example, auxiliary departments (usher board, pastor’s aide, etc.) could be appealing with more of a generational outlook. Pastor’s would better understand the behaviors of Millennials and be able to adjust accordingly. This adjusting, would be based off real world research which shows that Millennials respond to the utilization of technology. Reciprocally, that same research states that technology isn’t the friend of Baby Boomers who are more prone to shy away from it. Having this type of insight, can help spiritual leaders avoid unnecessary conflict and find viable solutions. In this case, they could offer a class taught by Millennials to help Baby Boomers better understand technology. Thus allowing all parties involved the opportunity to share and receive important information for the organization and life.

Conclusion    

Generational Leadership is a concept that can be taught in conjunction with leadership theories (Transformational, Transactional, etc.). I believe that it can be an effective tool by which to better shape tomorrow’s leaders. I also believe it can give Nonprofit leaders a better perspective on their volunteers and parishioners. In the coming weeks I will continue to expound upon Generational Leadership and its benefits.