You saw that video of the CEO of Chase going completely off at a town hall?
Yes, his tone may have seemed inappropriate, and yes, he probably works remotely a ton on his corporate jet, but if you listened closely, he made some undeniable points that many people don't want to hear, and he is clearly at his wits' end.
If you're a GenXer like me, you know how to work remotely and be absolutely productive, but you also have honed your interpersonal skills--and you learned that in person.
Younger generations aren't getting that, and it is showing up in reports where GenZers are getting fired from their corporate jobs in record numbers.
One line from my recent interview on Winning Season podcast with Jacqueline V. Twillie, MBA sums it up so well, and she said it in her native and classic Louisiana brogue:
"You don't get no skills from Bedside Baptist!"
The leaders I interviewed for Call and Response share something in common. They are courageous, emotionally intelligent, intuitive in a way that is strategic, not soft. They know how to form community in their sleep. They can communicate in ways that move people.
That does not happen by accident nor solely behind a screen and keyboard.
HR leaders are telling me communication skills are declining. Young professionals who entered the workforce during lockdown are struggling with in-person interaction.
So we have to ask: where were those muscles once formed, and what happens when those spaces get bigger and more tech savvy yet the opportunities to grow these muscles shrink?
In this clip, I name the tension and the opportunity.
If you care about leadership pipelines and the future of influence, take a few minutes and watch it and consider bringing me to your organization to discuss what it takes to build more heart-centered leaders who are masterful communicators.
Learn more about my new book Call and Response and submit a speaker invitation: lmichellesmith.com/callandresponse
