Ok, get this, many people in the corporate communications world are so obsessed with the new digital divide (under 30 vs. over) that there are rumours about that no CEO wants a head of communications over that magical age. What I would like to call is a new ageism that apparenetly is real. Does this mean if you are over 30, you are cooked? I hope not but it does catch your eye. The one falacy with all of it of course is that age by itself is not a competitive advantage. Age by itself is not a differentiator. I went to a conference this month where the organizers had a recent college graduate stand up and introduce himself as a "digital native." He then lamented that all of the digital work in his agency was falling to him and his underlying message was he didn't know what he was doing.
I'd like to call two things: first, that age alone cannot carry the day. And secondly, that the smart ones will leap on board this digital train and keep honing their skillset while levergaing the assets of the their experience.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
The Human Touch
I'm noticing a trend that I would like to call: the rash of social networking and life in the e-world, and the possible outcomes.
Given that literally everyone under 30 has a blog (Facebook is really a blog after all), I'm seeing that it is easier than ever before for people to voice their opinions. (Obvious.) Just look at Comcast Must Die and other consumer compliant sites, and you will see a new froth and range of consumers who feel they have been wronged. It is simple to complain or give priase (allright, mostly complain.) What is really interesting, however, is that while it is simple to complain online, it is much harder to have the guts to face conflict in the workplace or at home. In other words, many of those who are bold online would rather NOT send a poorly cooked meal back or not step up to a bully. And, with all these secret e-lives in motion, I believe there will eventually be a backlash and the next generation, while easily using technology, won't be so obsessed with it. Think about the major ups and downs of trends this century. The 20's gave Americans wealth until the end of the decade, the 30s despair, the 40s war, the 50s gave us an ideal and more war, the 60s Vietnam and the 70s free love. The 80s was a retun to family values, the 90s brought us GenX and a reworking of thinking about the corporate ladder and the 2000's a kind of funky complilation of all of it. So, look out for a return to the power of the human touch where those who can balance the e-world and the real world will thirive.
Given that literally everyone under 30 has a blog (Facebook is really a blog after all), I'm seeing that it is easier than ever before for people to voice their opinions. (Obvious.) Just look at Comcast Must Die and other consumer compliant sites, and you will see a new froth and range of consumers who feel they have been wronged. It is simple to complain or give priase (allright, mostly complain.) What is really interesting, however, is that while it is simple to complain online, it is much harder to have the guts to face conflict in the workplace or at home. In other words, many of those who are bold online would rather NOT send a poorly cooked meal back or not step up to a bully. And, with all these secret e-lives in motion, I believe there will eventually be a backlash and the next generation, while easily using technology, won't be so obsessed with it. Think about the major ups and downs of trends this century. The 20's gave Americans wealth until the end of the decade, the 30s despair, the 40s war, the 50s gave us an ideal and more war, the 60s Vietnam and the 70s free love. The 80s was a retun to family values, the 90s brought us GenX and a reworking of thinking about the corporate ladder and the 2000's a kind of funky complilation of all of it. So, look out for a return to the power of the human touch where those who can balance the e-world and the real world will thirive.
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