There was a time when everyone wanted to be the boss. It was part of the career trajectory from the moment someone entered the workforce. That is changing. The next generation has seen what being “the boss” has meant to others, and seen the impact leadership has had, both in good and bad ways, on those around them. More and more, aspiring to leadership may not be the goal.

In this conversation, Katie Navarra-Bradley, Professional Facilitator and Leadership Coach with Katie the Coach, and Ginny Telego, President of Collaboration Partners, talk about the new phenomenon of 'conscious unbossing' and its implications for leadership in a cross-generational workforce.

They discuss why millennials and Gen Z are hesitant to take on leadership roles, the importance of mentorship, and how organizations can create engaging opportunities for emerging leaders. They correlate this behavior and the way business leaders may be responding to behavior that they see in their horses and in their equine-assisted workshops.

Katie and Ginny highlight the need for a paradigm shift in how leadership is perceived and developed, drawing parallels between human leadership dynamics and horse herd behavior.

The Leading With Instinct Podcast is brought to you by Collaboration Partners and KatieTheCoach.com.

Takeaways

-Conscious unbossing reflects a shift in how younger generations view leadership.

-72% of millennials prefer individual contributor roles over management.

-Leadership roles are often perceived as thankless and burdensome.-

-Mentorship plays a crucial role in preparing future leaders.

-Organizations need to create supportive cultures for leadership development.

-Engaging learning experiences can enhance leadership skills.

-Shared leadership models can alleviate the pressure on individual leaders.

-Confidence is key for younger generations to step into leadership roles.

-Work should be enjoyable and fulfilling for all employees.

-Understanding generational perspectives is essential for effective leadership.

Episode Resources:

“Why Gen Z is Saying No to Management”

https://www.kornferry.com/insights/this-week-in-leadership/why-gen-z-is-saying-no-to-management

“Conscious Unbossing: Rebuilding the Leadership Pipeline for a New Generation”

https://www.ddiworld.com/blog/conscious-unbossing

“No One Wants to Be a Leader”

https://www.fastcompany.com/91357457/why-its-still-great-to-be-a-leader

Chapters

00:38 Understanding Conscious Unbossing

08:36 The Impact of Generational Perspectives on Leadership

09:38 The Role of Mentorship in Leadership Development

11:58 Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders

14:35 Creating Engaging Leadership Opportunities

21:58 Examples through Equine Experiences

28:27 Action Steps for Emerging Leaders

36:12 Conclusion and Call to Action

Helpful Links:

Ginny Telego, Collaboration Partners: https://www.thecollaborationpartners.com/

Katie Navarra-Bradley, Katie The Coach: https://katiethecoach.com/