Kara Powell returns to the podcast with fresh research on the three big questions the next generation is asking, centered on identity, belonging and purpose. As more and more young leaders struggle with anxiety, depression and life, Kara shares how you can respond.
Welcome to Episode 458 of the podcast. Listen and access the show notes below or search for the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.
Guest Links
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Episode Links
Medi-Share
It’s, again, that time of year – open enrollment season. It’s the dreaded yearly task of diving into a mountain of paperwork and research, trying to find the best health care option for you and your family.
We all want two things when it comes to our health care: trust and affordability. With a 98% customer satisfaction rating and an average member savings of 50% or more, Medi-Share checks both of those boxes!
Medi-Share is an affordable alternative to health insurance that allows members to share one another’s medical bills. They offer access to 900,000+ health care providers and have a proven 27-year track record.
They’re the most trusted name when it comes to health care sharing and having a quarter-century of expertise is one of those things that helps you sleep better at night!
There’s another thing that I love about Medi-Share, and it’s that they offer FREE & unlimited professional virtual counseling sessions to their members. Right now is the best time to make the switch.
Find out how much you could save, by going to medishare.com/carey.
World Vision
Can you remember a more difficult time to be a leader? It seems that every day brings new and more complex challenges in all sectors of life, including the Church.
World Vision knows that as we face challenging times, the world needs more great leaders like you. And there are few things more important in leadership than us taking moments to pause and reflect.
This is why World Vision has partnered with Krish Kandiah to create an interactive tool to ask yourself the critical questions and take stock of where you are and how you are.
Together, they’ve created a guide to prepare you for the season ahead so you can be the leader your community needs.
Download your FREE leadership assessment guide today at worldvision.org/careypodcast.
Conversation Links
3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager by Kara Powell and Brad Griffin
The Power of Moments by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
The Speed of Trust by Steven Covey
At Your Best by Carey Nieuwhof
Get Carey’s Content Straight to Your Inbox
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Insights From Kara
1. The next generation is anxious, adaptive and diverse
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone, and while we don’t fully know how it will affect any generation, Kara’s team at the Fuller Youth Institute has identified three key adjectives to describe the next generation:
- Anxious – Even before the pandemic, Gen Z had quite high rates of mental health challenges including anxiety, depression and even suicide. According to CDC data, during the pandemic anxiety tripled and depression quadrupled for young people. It’s likely this already anxious generation is probably now more anxious.
- Adaptive – Fuller also describes Gen Z as creative, talented, resilient, problem solvers, opportunity creators and having the desire to serve.
- Diverse – If you look at the US census data, in 2020, 50% of those under 18 are young people of color. So, 50% are white and 50% are young people of color. This generation is one that’s used to being around diverse folks and wants to pursue racial justice and racial reconciliation
2. Influence the next generation’s struggles with identity by sharing your journey
In her research for 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager, Kara’s team surveyed over 2,000 teenagers and found that they’re defining themselves based on others’ expectations and others’ interactions with them. And secondly, this next generation constantly feels, as they’re defining themselves, that they’re not enough.
Because the next generation responds to authenticity and vulnerability, Kara believes that we can positively influence them by first sharing our own identity journeys with them. When we do this with them, we build trust.
3. Gen Z may have too many possibilities, and that can be overwhelming
As children of the ’80s or ’90s, we often had a linear path—High school, then maybe college or the military, workforce, marriage, kids, etc. For young people today, it’s a much more circuitous path that sometimes leaves the map all together, and then comes back in a completely unique way.
There are so many different options for young people. And while many different possibilities can seem like an advantage, it can also be very overwhelming. Too many options can lead to stress and uncertainty when it comes to their sense of purpose.
Quotes from Episode 458
Our younger generation is going to trust us more when we're sharing more about our own journey. @KPowellFYI Click To Tweet According to CDC data, during the pandemic for young people, anxiety has tripled and depression has quadrupled. @KPowellFYI Click To Tweet This generation constantly feels that they're not enough. @KPowellFYI Click To Tweet Those of us who are over 30, we have finger pointed and we have judged the younger generation. @KPowellFYI Click To Tweet This is a very purposeful 'we want to change our environment, we want to make a difference' generation, which is something to really celebrate. @KPowellFYI Click To Tweet We can move at the speed of trust. - Stephen Covey Click To Tweet It is so easy to assume and so difficult to listen. Click To Tweet The best innovation happens through empathy. @KPowellFYI Click To Tweet All generations, but especially young people, are hungry for connection. @KPowellFYI Click To Tweet It's hard to create a sense of belonging when we're hurrying. @KPowellFYI Click To Tweet When stories can be shared in an unhurried environment, that creates a sense of we. @KPowellFYI Click To TweetRead or Download the Transcript for Episode 458
Looking for a key quote? More of a reader?
Read or download a free PDF transcript of this episode here.
Watch Back Episodes of The Podcast on YouTube
Select episodes of this podcast are now on YouTube. Our YouTube Channel gives you a chance to watch some episodes, not just listen.
SUBSCRIBED YET?
Subscribe for free and never miss out on wisdom from world-class leaders like Adam Grant, Seth Godin, Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Nancy Duarte, Henry Cloud, Patrick Lencioni, Francis Chan, Ann Voskamp, Erwin McManus, and many others.
Subscribe using your favorite podcast app via
Spread the Word. Leave a Rating and Review
Hopefully, this episode has helped you lead like never before. That’s my goal. If you appreciated it, could you share the love?
The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave us a brief review! You can do the same on Stitcher and on TuneIn as well.
Your ratings and reviews help us place the podcast in front of new leaders and listeners. Your feedback also lets me know how I can better serve you.
Thank you for being so awesome.
Next Episode: Michelle Williams
At age 20, Michelle Williams was approached by Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland to become the next member of Destiny’s Child, a moment that changed her life. Michelle talks about the pressure of fame, public life, her battles with depression, why she’s still great friends with Kelly Rowland and Beyoncé long after Destiny’s Child disbanded, and why success can’t fulfill unmet needs.
Subscribe for free now so you won’t miss Episode 459.
