The Marks of Maturity
There is a paradox among students today. They are advanced intellectually, but behind emotionally, missing the marks of maturity they should possess.
Gender Confusion in our Kids
I am blogging all week about the best questions I received last Saturday when I spoke at a parenting conference at Northridge Church, just outside of Detroit. It was a great day of dialogue and the parents were full of insightful questions. Here is another below. Question: "It seems like I am running into more and more tweens and teens who
Are Video Games Bad?
Last Saturday, I was hosted by Northridge Church who held an incredible parenting conference for 550 parents in the Plymouth, Michigan community. I had a blast, hanging out with such engaged moms and dads who want to lead their kids well. This week, I am blogging about the most common questions I was asked that day. Today’s is a big
Building Relationship Skills in a Texting Generation
On Saturday, I spoke at a parent event hosted by Northridge Church in Plymouth, Michigan. I experienced amazing hosts and 550 receptive parents all day long. During the day, I was asked great questions by moms and dads that I plan to blog about this week. The question below came from a woman who is both a mother and a
Video Post: Interview with Coach Kris Hogan
A few weeks ago, a story made its way across America about a small, private school football team in Grapevine, Texas that did something very unusual. They were scheduled to play a juvenile detention center in football, Gainesville State School the next Friday. They knew that those young inmates would have no one cheering for them in the stands, no
Why Bullying is Hot Again and What You Can Do (Re-post)
I have worked with students for thirty years. Idistinctly remember when bullying became a topic of discussion across the American education landscape. It was around 1995, the same time social scientists began to measure bullying on the school campus. The issue of “no bullies” became vogue for a while. Then, for years, it seemed we didn’t hear about it. Now—it’s back
The Problem is Us (A Re-post)
Sometimes I get misunderstand as a guy who’s against kids. Since publishing my latest book, Generation iY—Our Last Chance to Save heir Future, some think I whine about how this generation of students are undisciplined and feel entitled. Actually, this couldn’t be further from the truth. I love this generation of students. But they’re in trouble. More than you may think. According
Youth Revolutions: We’ve Only Seen the Beginning
The revolts and protests we’re hearing about every day in the news have a few ingredients in common. Have you noticed them? - They are led by a swelling population of young adults. - They occur when youth have too much time on their hands. - They happen when established leaders don’t know how to lead them. “Young people without jobs, young people who
Generation Y: What Are They Thinking? (Part 1 of 4)
The rest of this week, I plan to blog about what’s on the mind of young adults today, the ones from Generation Y (born 1984-2002). In addition to our research with college students, Pew Research and Barna Reports have given us the latest read on this emerging generation and their affect on our culture. If you’re a parent, teacher, coach
Who is Right: The Teacher or the Students?
An AP article by Pat Walters reported, “A high school English teacher in suburban Philadelphia who was suspended for a blog in which she called her young charges "disengaged, lazy whiners" is driving a debate by daring to ask: Why are today's students unmotivated — and what's wrong with calling them out? As she fights to keep her job at Central
Are We Measuring the Wrong Stuff?
While speaking to faculty members in the DeSoto School District in Kansas last week, one teacher said something remarkable to me during a break. He said: “I wonder if the problem is—we are measuring the wrong stuff.” He was talking about how much high school faculty are required to teach that doesn’t really matter to life. But that’s only the beginning.
Will They Grow Up? (Part II)
Yesterday, I started a list of ideas adults can use to help teens and young adults grow up. Our society, which used to be part of the solution -- is now part of the problem in why these kids stall and fail to mature until their late twenties. These twenty-somethings have gone through our school systems and come out ill-equipped. Somehow,
Helping Our Kids Grow Up (Part I)
I just heard from an admissions staff member at Harvard University. He told me he interviewed a prospective student recently and had an unusual experience. During the interview the student would answer his questions, then look down after each one. The staff member assumed the student was just a bit shy. But, alas, it was something else. He was looking
The 3 Best Kept Secrets to Building Good Relationships with Students
Some stuff you need to know as a leader -- you learn quickly. Others, you just learn over the years. As I travel and speak at schools, corporations, non-profit organizations, and churches, I see adults trying too hard to connect with young people. And there is a gap. Teachers and parents become frustrated at the lack of connection and good
An Introduction to Generation iY
I was privileged to be apart of the Leadership and Influence Summit 2010 earlier this month, and thought I would share the video I taped for them incase you were unable to watch when they aired it. They asked for me to talk about understanding Generation iY in the workplace, and to give you a glimpse into who they are.
Bullied Parents
I have met grown adults who shock me when they fail to perform in their own homes with their own children. They are parents who may begin well with their kids -- but over time they abdicate their leadership in the family. Have you met them, too? Bullied Parents In the same way that a bully picks on weaker kids at school
Working with Generation iY: What They Expect on the Job or on a Team
There’s something you should know about these young employees who are just now gracing your workplace. In many ways, the newest hires are not like Generation X or the Baby Boomers before them. They are Generation iY, who grew up in the “I” world, online. Their world has produced a set of expectations that leaders should recognize. Below is a
Changes With Every Generation
I am sure you’ve noticed something as I have. Every generation of adults look behind them (at the kids), and are sure they are the “worst” bunch of rebels our world has ever seen. Socrates, thousands of years ago wrote of the misguided youth in Greece and was sure they were “good for nothing.” But I have noticed something else, as
Five Decisions to Help Generation iY Find Their Future
One of the best ways adults can help guide iY youth into their future is to help them think through five critical decisions. Everyone ends up making these decisions, by default or design. But if they’re made on purpose -- and in the right order -- they can become a kind of compass to help them steer a course in
We Need a Compass, Not a Map
Whenever I have to travel to a new city, I want to have a map or better yet, a Global Positioning System in my car. These tools can keep me from getting lost and get me to my destination. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in a new territory and that GPS saved me. There was a
Some Kids Just Can’t Wait
I blog each week about a student from Generation iY who isn’t waiting until they reach “adulthood” to transform the world. It’s why we do what we do at Growing Leaders. Zach Hunter is a vivid example of what we’re trying to build. I’ve known Zach for four years now. He’s a relatively quiet, unassuming teenager, but what’s happened with his
Catalyst 2010
I’m excited to be a part of the Catalyst Conference again this year. I was fortunate to be on John Maxwell’s team when the conference was first started years ago, and it’s amazing to see how it has grown and expanded its influence around our nation and the world. Yesterday, I got to talk to a room jam-packed with adults who
An Interview with Mark Bauerlein (Part 3)
I have the privilege of meeting fairly regularly with an extremely intelligent man named Mark Bauerlein. Mark is a writer for The Wall Street Journal, he’s authored numerous books and he’s a faculty member at Emory University in Atlanta. This last time we met, I brought a camera man. I wanted to get Mark’s observations on students today, the kids that
An Interview with Mark Bauerlein (Part 2)
I have the privilege of meeting fairly regularly with an extremely intelligent man named Mark Bauerlein. Mark is a writer for The Wall Street Journal, he’s authored numerous books and he’s a faculty member at Emory University in Atlanta. This last time we met, I brought a camera man. I wanted to get Mark’s observations on students today, the kids that
Working with Generation iY: What They Expect on the Job or on a Team
There’s something you should know about these young employees who are just now gracing your workplace. In many ways, the newest hires are not like Generation X or the Baby Boomers before them. They are Generation iY, who grew up in the “I” world, online. Their world has produced a set of expectations that leaders should recognize. Below is a
What is it About Twenty-Somethings?
Last week, the New York Times ran an article called, “What is it About Twenty-Somethings?” It was a treatment of the rising population who are aptly called “emerging adults” by author Jeffrey Jensen Arnett. You can find the article here on lemondrop. The article cleverly shares 10 clues that you really are a twenty-something, including: You plan to move back home
From College Career to Real Career: Are Grads Ready?
These recent college grads are savvy and confident, but can they transition from college career to real career?
Connecting with Generation iY
All week, I've been blogging about observations I’ve made about connecting with Generation iY (the students born since 1990). I believe adults need to rethink the way we deliver our message to these kids that grew up online. Here are a couple of other observations… Observation #4: They want a guide on the side before they want a sage on the
My Observations on Students Today
Yesterday, I began a list of observations that will help adults better understand and guide students today. Let me suggest another couple of observations about Generation iY: Observation #2: They want an experience before an explanation. Author, Leonard Sweet, describes today’s culture and its young people as EPIC: Experiential, Participatory, Image-rich, and Connected. Teachers must remember that a lecture isn’t enough anymore
So How Do We Connect with Generation iY?
Because of the rapid cycles of change we’re experiencing these days, I propose that we must rethink how we connect with students every four years. Let me suggest a few. The following observations are about Generation iY that may help you as you attempt to communicate and connect with students today. Observation #1: They want to belong before they believe. Today’s student
Changes with Every Generation
I am sure you’ve noticed something as I have. Every generation of adults look behind them (at the kids), and are sure they are the “worst” bunch of rebels our world has ever seen. Socrates, thousands of years ago wrote of the misguided youth in Greece and was sure they were “good for nothing.” But I have noticed something else, as
The Walmart Effect: The Reason We Can’t Ignore the iY Generation
I am certain you’ve heard some of the same stories I’ve heard over the last ten years. In communities around America, local hardware stores have been driven out of business by the entrance of a new Home Depot in town. Communities feel a similar impact when a Walmart sets up shop in town. Local discount stores just can’t compete with
The Case Against Screens for Teens and Children
Michelle Obama has launched a crusade against obesity in children in the U.S. It’s a noble cause. May I dig a bit deeper and share one “obese reason” why young people struggle with this problem?
A Homogeneous World
This is a second blog post in a series of six on how we must understand and diagnose the world of the emerging generation, if we’re going to lead them well. Below is a second word I’ve chosen to define one of the challenges they face that we’ll need to help resolve. 2. Their world is homogeneous. My research tells me
An Artificial World
As you can see, my goal for these blog posts is to lead the next generation well. I want desperately to do that. If you share my passion for this goal, go with me on a journey over the next six Mondays, where we’ll attempt to understand the world in which this emerging generation (Generation Y) has grown up in,
A Generation of Paradox
I had the privilege of doing a webinar this afternoon for a great group of youth workers in Alaska. Part of our discussion was on the fact that today’s students represent a generation of paradox. Although many of them are advanced biologically, cognitively, and socially, they are often stunted in their emotional growth. Here are seven observations I’ve made: Paradox One: They
Leading the Next Generation Well: Over-Connected
Last week I blogged about young people feeling overwhelmed. It leads to a second problem. Frequently, youth respond in one of two ways to being overwhelmed. One, they push back and get lost in a virtual world of Second Life and video games, or a social world of Facebook and texting. It’s a coping mechanism. They survive by escaping reality