Chapter 25: A generation that can't run a shovel.

There's a good chance this Romantic will be wandering back to the homeland in the fall.


My Aunt K recently said to me: "There are plenty of adages .. basically, in something closes it opens the way for a better to open. Sometimes it's a matter of something falling apart .. that a new can be built instead."


It's also been said, that when God closes a door, he opens a window.  That being said, one big door seems to be slowly closing, and a big window is slowly opening.   I'll be working out the details in a week or two, but It looks very much like the Oilfield Romantic will be headed back to his hometown, possibly for the next couple of years. 


I'm extremely excited about this new opportunity, and I'll be keeping ya'll posted on it as it plays out.  


Anyway, tonight one thing is really heavy on my mind: who will be the leaders of our generation? What do I need to do to get to the top and stay there? Has our generation lost the work ethic of our parents and grandparents? How will I bring an entire industry up to date technologically?


This is all interesting to me.

It's a myth that the workplace is turning into one big leaderless state. Just as decisions made by committee often require head banging, life without leaders would be one big headache. Yes, leadership has changed anddecentralized organizations are here to stay, but there will always be leaders. We want success. We want to win, and winners have leaders.

Once you've tossed aside the crutch of hierarchical authority though, "knowing how to build relationships, use influence and work with others is crucial to achieving the results you seek," according to Valeria Maltoni, a specialist in connecting ideas and people.

A Generation Y leader inspires by enabling others to be leaders. They know the strengths of those they lead, and exploit those for the success of that person. A Gen-Y leader delegates to help the worker achieve their goals. They are motivated by relationships and have an obsession with seeing others succeed.

By making room for other leaders, "you attract people who aren't followers, who aren't looking for the kind of leader who will save them from the anxiety of responsibility," according to Michael S. Hopkins. And the millennial generation does not follow.

Instead, we create our own content, build our own businesses, do things our way. Be an entrepreneur or die,says Sam Davidson at Cool People Care. For the Gen-Y leader, it isn't about ego, but about sharing ownership and building a community of ideas. An effective Gen-Y leader helps our generation to embrace entrepreneurshipat every level.

A Gen-Y leader is inclusive and collaborative, and not just within their sphere of influence. An isolated organization will perish. Successful organizations are defining themselves as the gateway expert in their field. On the playing field, in this instance, companies must pick the competitor to be a part of their team for bigger and better results. It's not enough to have a quality product; you must reach out and promote others. Teamwork is no longer just within a company. It's industry-wide.

As a result, lines haven't just been blurred; they've been pulverized on high in a blender. Competitors are partners, work is play, and boundaries no longer exist. As such, Gen-Y leaders must be leaders by example, and in every aspect of their life, whether family, work, or play.

Generation Y leaders, however, can and will be easily replaced by their peers. We are a starfish generation. Go ahead and try to chop one of us down, and we'll grow a whole sprawling forest in that person's place. We're that strong. We're that motivated. We don't respond lightly to pressure or corruption.

A Gen-Y leader's efforts to maintain influence will be harder for that reason. Especially because it is often our peers doing the chopping. As a generation, we're remarkably good at calling bull. We have no qualms about holding our leaders up to the light to check for transparency.

Gen-Y leaders then must know themselves first, and project their authenticity. They must also be constantlylearning, experiencing, doing, networking, creating, giving. It won't stop. Our generation won't put up with selfish thoughts, unethical behavior, or tired ideas. The Gen-Y leader must be constantly on.

That's how we will become the next great generation. We won't stop. Change is in the air; inhale deeply.

The Oilfield Romantic