Perhaps today’s concern arises out of the fact that as days go by, I am finding myself more and more often as one of the older people in the room. Yes, I am fully aware that I am not in my twenties anymore but spending the majority of the day immersed with Emerging Generations, there are moments when it’s simple to forget that I am not still in that particular Season of Life. On the flip side of that coin, there are days when it is exceedingly evident that a Generation Gap exists, and I’m torn as to which perspective is better in that particular moment. As an advocate for organizations who embrace a Generational Remix, I experience deep concern that as older generations exit the workplace, the location of the Buried Pipes will be walking out the door with them.

In preparation for another presentation on how to navigate the reality of multigenerational cultures, I began reading Haydn Shaw’s Sticking Points and the concern over Buried Pipes emerged. Shaw shares a story of dissonance he witnessed between generations at an oil refinery. The older workers described their experience of paying the price, building equity, and doing dirty work before earning an opportunity to lead. “’There’s no loyalty. What do we do to keep them here for thirty years?’ ‘Why is that important?’ I asked. ‘Somebody in this refinery has to know where all the pipes are buried. In an emergency, we need somebody with that kind of knowledge, or this town could blow up.’”

Perhaps there is no validation for my nagging concern, but I don’t want any organization where God has called me to invest my time to blow up! But when I sit in a room with colleagues and someone mentions the concept of a climbing wall as a college recreation trend, and no one is aware that we’ve tried that idea unsuccessfully in the past, I grow concerned. Who is documenting where the Buried Pipes are so that when wisdom and experience walk out the door, we don’t repeat past mistakes? When this occurs, I feel like we are Devaluing the Past. So, how do we move forward embracing a Growth Mindset without devaluing the past?

Whoever can offer the most effective solution to these issues might just uncover a gold mine while searching for the location of those Buried Pipes! But what if, instead, we take the wealth of information that Shaw and Lindsey Pollak provide us and apply it to where we are currently serving? Steven M.R. Covey describes Shaw’s work this way: “Haydn doesn’t simply explain the differences between the generations; he shows us how to use his five-step process to work through and transcend each of the twelve most common generational conflicts—what he calls ‘sticking points.’ He beautifully teaches the why behind the what and helps us gain real understanding of our generational differences, enabling us to leverage today’s opportunity of having multiple generations at work at the same time.”

The current reality is that with retiring personnel, we are sometimes compelled to hire less experienced, and perhaps less qualified, people to fulfill existing needs. The Forgotten Generation, who would typically be moving into leadership roles, is not large enough to replace the ones who are exiting to find their Encore Careers. What happens to that vital knowledge of the Buried Pipes? Are we navigating ways to pass the information on from one generation to the next?

We can’t ignore the implications that our life experiences, including the time period in which we were born, have significant impact on how we approach life, including the communities and workplaces in which we live. Through intentional Appreciative Inquiry, through understanding the Sticking Points, and through effective collaboration and communication, it is possible to Remix, where the strengths of all the generations—past, present, and future—can unite their wisdom and ingenuity to create a flourishing community. When we allow the experienced generations to tell their stories and we embrace a Listening Life, we all benefit from blending our ideas and aspirations together.

Are you aware of an organization that has passed on the location of the Buried Pipes well and effectively navigated the challenges of a multigenerational culture? Would you please consider sharing about them in the comments below?

References:

Pollak, L. (2019). The remix: How to lead and succeed in the multigenerational workplace. Harper Business.

Shaw, H. (2020). Sticking points: How to get 5 generations working together in the 12 places they come apart. [Kindle version]. Tyndale Momentum.