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Why we need younger leaders
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Benching old-timers. Some of the most influential US leaders have the same thing in common, declares former presidential advisor David Gergen: they’re too old. Gergen says the baby boomer generation (and their elders) should stop trying to hold onto power and step aside so that young people—including an impressive cohort of veterans and Black women—can lead. An 80-year-old himself, Gergen says the US Executive Office of the President requires a younger, sharper mind. [PBS] |
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A moral crisis. The US faces a moral crisis that demands the talent of young people, says Gergen. Younger generations are hungry for tough, character-forming leadership experiences, as seen with young activist leaders fighting for changes in the environment and civil rights, he adds. Character, capability, and courage are leadership essentials, yet too many students plan to work in the private sector. We need to offer up public service “in a very big way,” says Gergen. [CBS News] |
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New problem solvers. In an interview with McKinsey, David Gergen, who is also a CNN senior analyst and founding director of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership, discusses his new book, Hearts Touched with Fire: How Great Leaders Are Made. Gergen contends that the problems facing the US today—including the economy, racial inequalities, and climate issues—require a fresh, dynamic form of leadership. Young Americans show grit and idealism and should be encouraged to enter the political arena, Gergen says.
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Harness the power of youth. Gergen believes that the US needs a national service program that would allow young people to work for their communities for a year in exchange for relief from college debt. Businesses can strengthen up-and-coming generations by committing to creating more jobs for people of color. But most of all, older leaders need to recognize when it’s time to step aside and offer the support and counsel the next generations need to eventually take over.
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| — Edited by Katy McLaughlin |
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