The Key to Bridging Generational Gaps | Simon Sinek

What are the best ways to bridge generational divides in today's tech-driven society?

With divides caused by social media, anxiety, and loneliness, leaders must rethink how they engage with younger employees. Simon shares practical tips on creating phone-free meetings and fostering trust. Learn how empathy can transform your workplace and promote deeper connections and better collaboration.

Video from Mercedes-Benz Club, March 2024, in conversation with Arthur Blank

+ + +

Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together.

Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do.

Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and The Infinite Game.

+ + +

Simon’s books:

+ + +

#SimonSinek

[claredobson]

Inlove the very last line, my door is always open, but we assume they have the courage to walk in, we have to go to them. It's very true.

[CollinRutherford]

Totally agree that empathy is key when it comes to bridging generational gaps.

[BeAlphaX]

Constant Communication...Thank you Sir Simon Sinek...

[Infinitynow]

Im sorry to say I have tried a lot and taken your advice Simon, they may improve in spurts but it doesn’t last. Social media is a behemoth - I wish i could be more positive I really do. Because character and behavioural change takes real work which is alien to todays world of instant gratification

[josephthunstrom]

A couple of the high school boys at my job have a lot of trouble socializing at school. That's why we don't pull out our phones in our back room. We talk.

[MichaelComerford-gvmf]

Is anyone watching this in a work meeting?

[OlgaSunny-plsg]

Having phone by your side is a must specially if you are a parent. School calls you, the child gets sick., etc… one time I decided to put the phone away because harmful radiation implications that I read online. I had the phone away and missed 4 important phone calls that needed immediate attention. Same at work you have to be ready to answer because the society has changed and its expectations are different from the older generation.

[GLJosh]

Some point in the middle, from a literalist standpoint, we are stuck in the mud breaking stuff. That sounds fairly accurate.

[damienmead]

Is there a signpost to the research mentioned on taking notes on computers vice notes by writing? Any data on productivity working in physical proximity vice remote working would also be extremely valuable.

[evasccl]

😂You'd love to hear the many times I banned the mobile phone in class, at the table, (irrespective if you are a guest or not!), at a restaurant, at meetings and even when i have a one to one conversation....🤣 The most hilarious of all (although i could share many more) is the one where I had to host a group of teenagers from China for a few hours and they all were silent but staring at their mobile phones and typing. So, I asked one of the boys what was he doing on him mobile phone, to which he politely replied that he was "talking" to someone... 😆 i was so curious... and knowing myself, I smiled and asked him who was he talking to and.... BOOM he pointed to another boy in the living room 🤣🤣 needless to say i was frozen for a couple of seconds. I brought a box and asked them all to leave their phones there, that we'd go to the park to play and then ordered pizza 😎 we don't need a phone to talk to the person next to us, so we are going to do that... leave the phone and talk to each other 🤣🤣
There are loads of things to do in a park, they ran and played, we all had a good laugh, the were more sociable and we went to get pizzas, took them home where we still ate and had a great time. Nobody asked for their phones, when the time was for them to leave... i brought the box and they all left smiling, one or two even made a few jokes 😆 and i got some hugs too, which is not very common for Chinese to do!
So those of us who have lived childhood playing outdoors, mingling with people of all ages, ... can really make a positive impact but just treating them as we treat any other friend at their age!! ❤ So... let us make a good impact and nurture those skills that enable us to connect heart to heart and not mobile to mobile 😎

[catatonicbug]

The main reason for phones in meetings is for scheduling. Everyone has their calendars on their phones, and most meetings end with the scheduling of the next meeting or setting timelines of some kind. Without those calendars, it's very difficult to make arrangements.

[KuruGDI]

The Chief of our office also says "My door is always open". Too bad that is a trash can like folder right between you and him where you can "deposit" all of your ideas.
Having an open door is worth nothing (even actually harmful) if your ideas are not even noticed let alone talked about, but dismissed right when you walk though the door.

[gideonwilliams]

I couldn't imagine having my phone out while working. I would not get anything done.