Written by: Brian Wood, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Disclaimer: I might come across as that "Hey, you kids, get off my lawn" guy – but bear with me.
The older I get, the more I miss my parents and the more I appreciate the way they sacrificed, worked hard, and fought even harder. The idea of sitting on the front porch and speaking with them would be an emotional dream come true. There are hundreds of questions that I wish I asked on that front porch.
When we overlook front porch opportunities, the stories stop being shared and many lessons learned phase out from one generation to the next. Before we know it, the storytellers are no longer with us, and the stories are often forgotten.
A quick rewind:
Back in the day before social media, there weren't as many entertainment options and not nearly as many distractions. When we were in grade school there was a "must have" game. The football field board would vibrate and shake to the point where these little plastic figures, which almost resembled football players, would randomly move in different directions (but they normally just spun in circles endlessly). Anyway, it wasn't like you could design plays or do anything beyond turn the game on and hope for the best! It went from extreme excitement to "This is the worst – let’s just go outside and play” in about four minutes. Even TV options were limited and the idea of having access to 24/7 fun through the magic of television was crazy talk. TV stations stopped broadcasting late night every evening.
Fast forward to our current world:
We have an infinite number of social media and streaming opportunities. The possibilities are endless!
But we have some choices to make. Social media and technology can become the ultimate distractions – pulling us away from those front porch conversations. But they can also expand our ability to communicate with more people and enhance our conversations on a global scale.
It's not the technology but what we do with it, how we use it. Again, not trying to suggest that "Life was so much better before electricity" I seriously doubt that was the case. But I believe we can have the best of both worlds where we can connect virtually with family, friends like-minded people and people with belief systems that contract ours – across the planet. We can learn, support, interact and serve others through social media. We can choose to like, share, follow and comment on the posts and people that raise our energy and bring us joy. We have the power to filter content and absorb positive, creative, and inspiring thoughts while blocking negative and judgmental noise from small thinkers.
There is a connection between the front porch conversations and leadership. Think of it was the athlete engaging in HIT – high intensity training. He/she works exceptionally hard but then there is the recovery period. Both are needed to drive optimal results. So, I'm not preaching for you to metaphorically stay on the porch, never take any risks and talk about the past for your entire life. We need to be present while appreciating the stories and accomplishments of the past.
As a leader don’t fall into the trap of believing life was perfect before social media and technology. Don’t get tricked into thinking “If I could only manage my generation, things would be simple.”
There is room for social media and technology, just like there is a need to slow down the game with the right discussion at the right time. And it’s okay to be intimidated – or even scared of both! We are surrounded by talent, tools, resources, and gifted people from every generation. The best leaders leverage newness, learn from individuals with different knowledge and show up with confidence and vulnerability.
And they rarely miss an opportunity to sprinkle in a few front porch conversations.
Brian Wood, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Brian Wood combines 30 years of corporate experience with his background as an athlete, certified player agent (NBA, WNBA, and FIBA), and a certified professional success coach to provide clients with a unique perspective and guidance toward the next level of achievement. Wood is passionate about continuous personal and professional growth including organizational development, training, and gamification. He is enthusiastic about helping leaders leverage their gifts to drive impact and success. Wood supports major corporations, professional sports organizations, and municipalities. He provides confidential, professional, and executive coaching, speaking engagements, virtual and in-person facilitation.
