Page 132 - Appreciative Leadership

The Genius of Inclusion 105

Think about the “youth” in your organization or
PAUSE
community. Who are they? What special gift s
do they have? How might you more fully engage
with them?

The Wisdom of Elders

Another group to consciously include in conversations and deci-
sion making are elders—people whose years of experience add up to
know-how, common sense, and wisdom. In many cultures the elders
are respected community leaders. They are honored in a wide range

of ways: by being listened to, by having their ideas considered, and by

serving as mentors to youth. They are often the ones to bring perspec-

tive. Their life experiences give them the capacity to see and speak for

the whole. They can often see where things are going, not because
they have extrasensory perception but because they have been there
before. Experienced members of any organization or community are
valued resources. They are informational and inspirational sources

of potential.
Th ere are many ways you might elicit the perspectives and
wisdom that elders can bring. The following are some ideas for you to

try and see what happens:

• Create an elders’ advisory council and call on the council to refl ect
upon and share ideas related to key issues and decisions.
• Establish a process for new employees to interview both older and
long-term employees—to learn from them, to build relationships,
and to foster cross-generational collaboration.
• Invite longtime staff members to participate on strategic teams or

task forces.
• Ask elders to teach subjects of interest and experience to other
members of the organization.