Knowing is Essential for Millennial Leaders 

I recently attended a Cyber Security Summit, sponsored by Leadership ND. The keynote speaker, Mark Hagerott, grabbed my attention with his comments on this very real threat to our safety and security on all levels. He went so far as to describe that we are “in a cyber war of massive proportions – really a war of good against evil.” 

​One of his insights on how to address this growing global crisis stood out like a flashing neon sign to me: the need to invest in raising millennial leaders with strong moral character and fiber.  It is essential that we have leaders who know what’s right and who have the courage to stand for what is right over what is easy.
 
Note: Mark R. Hagerott, PhD, CAPT USN (Retired) Deputy Director and Distinguished Professor of Cyber Security was a Security Force Assistance/Advisor:  Afghan Army, Air Corps, and did Course work in the U.S. Military Academy.  He was a Senior Military Officer with nearly 30 years in the military, active and reserve, a Senior Navy Liaison Officer for the State of MN and a Prior Executive Officer for a Cyber Security Navy Unit.

​When I reflected on the points made by the keynote speakers at the Cyber Security Summit, I realized that when knowledge travels down to our hearts, it becomes part of our being. It becomes the wisdom that leads us in the way we do business, in the way we conduct our private and personal lives, and in the way we treat others. As seasoned leaders, we need to hand down these core values to the younger generation – especially millennial leaders in the making.
 
Knowing, a deep sense of knowing is the third step to cultivating a courageous core. The act of contributing to the personal and social well-being of others cultivates a courageous character core, especially during times of conflict and chaos.

Discuss the difference between ethical and unethical behavior. Sometimes the lines get foggy. When they are in a situation that makes them feel uncomfortable, encourage them to follow their instincts and talk it over with a trusted advisor.  

Encourage young leaders to pay attention to situations where they feel uncomfortable or uneasy. Invite them to think through what personal value is being challenged in the situation. 

Remind Next Gen leaders to listen to others and learn to be sensitive to discern when they feel uncomfortable or uneasy. 
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All of us will face ethical dilemmas. What we need is a deep sense of knowing how we might promote and contribute to the well-being of everyone we interact with. But, we also need wisdom to help us discover how we might do this in the most loving way possible. Confidently share your own life experiences at opportune times to give future leaders a deeper understanding of your business growth ideas and future succession strategies.

​C S Lewis said, “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”
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Dakota Way Leadership question: What might you do to guide Emerging Millennial Leaders when they are challenged to compromise their values?
 
Dakota Way Leadership lesson: Don’t bury your uneasiness. Pay attention to it.

© Copyright Danita Bye, 2016