DBA Members’ Forum | September Summary

• Kate Shepherd, co-founder of The Future Collective shared her presentation giving us a whistle-stop tour of their soon-to-be-published research with Henley Business School, Leadership Futures: Advancing into Industry 5.0. 
• This comes at a time when we have a multi-generational workforce with divergent values and expectations, and that calls for a shift in the way we’re leading our businesses and teams.  
• As we enter this era, there’s a strong focus on people – both the generation leaving the workforce and the legacy they’ll leave behind, and the younger generation joining with fresh and innovative ideas. It’s a huge opportunity for leaders to think beyond profit, considering their impact on society, the environment and the broader stakeholder community.
• If the generational gap is feeling wider now than it has before, that’s partly due to the impact of the pandemic. Working and studying remotely, and the fact that getting on the property ladder feels unattainable, means that values and ambitions have shifted dramatically in recent years for the younger generations. 
• Balancing flexibility with the on-the-job learning we all benefitted from, is key for those entering the workforce that might feel their learning opportunities have been stunted.
• Trust and empathetic leadership is imperative – along with a level of flexibility in the day and over the week – and this is the case across the board in your teams, no matter their age. 
• So, whether it’s a sports day or a mid-morning gym session, flexibility will be appreciated and rewarded with loyalty, as is creating an environment they want to work and learn in. Make team days count.
• Younger generations are looking for roles where company ethics and values align with their own before they accept job offers. Are your values clearly articulated on your website? They can’t just be words, they have to be apparent in your actions.
• Empowerment was discussed – that could look like inviting a younger colleague to a pitch or a client meeting. Make them part of the every day to make them feel like a valued and appreciated member of your business. 
• How do you practically make these changes as a leader? Challenge yourself to learn new things, make time to invest in yourself and the way you approach leadership.
• The full report will be published on 7 October – look out for it in our newsletter.

There was much, much more covered in the hour – I hope you find these notes helpful. Join our next meeting on Monday 4 November, 4-5pm GMT, look out for an email with the details in a few weeks.

We’ve captured the conversation highlights from the all the Members’ Forums which have taken place and they can all be found here.