ILMA Compoundings - Jul/Aug 2021 - 30

BUSINESS HUB
Walk the Talk: Building
Next-Gen Communication Skills
By Barbara Dartt and Tom Emigh
W
e often hear comments
from the next-generation
members of an enterprising
family that indicate they don't see
opportunities to engage: " No one
cares what we think. " " No one listens
to me. " " They don't think I know
enough to contribute. " Leading-generation
members of those same families
might say: " The next-gens just aren't
stepping up like we hoped. " Creating
space for next-gens to communicate
in a variety of contexts is a significantly
untapped opportunity for their
growth and development.
To help members of the next generation
recognize and take full advantage
of these opportunities for engagement,
we propose three distinct areas of focus:
preparation, practice and place.
In this article for Compoundings,
we'll focus on practice. To read the
full article, which outlines the other
two communication focus areas, visit
bit.ly/3uwAdBM.
NEXT-GEN COMMUNICATION IN
PRACTICE
Skills developed are skills practiced. It
is important for the next generation to
have real-time and real-life opportunities
to put into practice the skills they are
developing and to get some coaching
and feedback as they go. Consider the
acronym LISTEN, based on one of the
most fundamental but often overlooked
communication skills. LISTEN provides
a set of specific communication techniques
and a learning mindset that the
leading generation can model and the
next generation can develop and practice.
30
Learning. A common misperception
of leaders is that they must know all
the answers. This isn't good leadership,
and as businesses and families grow in
complexity, this belief is particularly
unrealistic and harmful. Instead,
good leaders listen, ask thoughtful
questions and continuously learn
about their organization's challenges
and opportunities. Learning to listen
well requires a mindset of humility
and is an effective communication
practice. If listening isn't a strong trait
in the leading generation, it probably
won't be a skill easily developed by
those in the next generation. Developing
better listening skills can be an
intergenerational goal that will benefit
everyone concerned.
Intentional. Both next and leading
generations must be intentional in
planning and practicing communication
skills. Being intentional means
approaching each day with a thoughtful
plan that flows into and out of a
larger plan for family and for business.
No matter what process you're
engaging in - succession/continuity
planning, mergers and acquisitions,
a family meeting, reorganization or
simply walking around your business
and connecting with people - do it
for a reason that relates to intended
outcomes, and be intentional about
it. And let others know what you
are doing and why. Intentionality
supports accountability, and being
accountable depends upon accurate
two-way communication.
JULY/AUGUST 2021 | COMPOUNDINGS | ILMA.ORG
Savor. Do you focus on the negative
or the positive? Neuroscience research
tells us that the brain holds on to
negativity at a much greater rate than
it does positive events. For the positive
to be appreciated, it must be savored.
There are many positive events in
the life of a family or enterprise, and
there is a risk that they could get lost
in challenges and negativity. Leaders
model the discipline of savoring by
celebrating positive, affirming actions
and events and the people involved
in making them happen. Leaders
can also model the cultural value
and practice of savoring events and
activities that reinforce the values of
the family, the values of the enterprise,
successes, and even important insights
and learnings from disappointment
and failure.
The key to savoring a moment is to
slow down a bit and be very present
in that moment. Leaders at all levels
can model slowing down to revel
in an accomplishment in the life of
the enterprise or the family. Taking
time to focus and enjoy a moment of
accomplishment reinforces the behaviors
that you want to see in others.
Publicly savoring the accomplishments
of others reinforces their confidence
and teaches the important communication
skill of giving credit. Take time
to pause and model the celebration of
the positive.
Teaching. A wise mentor has observed
that leadership is 50% teaching and
50% learning. How will the next
generation understand core concepts
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ILMA Compoundings - Jul/Aug 2021

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