How to Collaborate Across Generations, Cultures, and Politics – 3 Enablers Tried and Tested in Yosemite Big Wall Climbing

Why does it matter?

Collaborating across generations is much debated these days. Many companies struggle to attract, motivate, and retain people from younger generations. On the other end of the spectrum, older generations often feel left behind by the technological change and the initiatives, such as digitalization that the organization is taking. Organizations face similar challenges when working across cultures, locations, and political gaps.?

The result: organizations can't tap into the full wisdom their people have to offer or –?even worse –?face conflict, struggle to hire talent, or experience brain drain. The time is ticking: with baby boomers retiring preserving their knowledge and transferring their experience to the young generation this issue is more pressing than ever.

Many managers are overwhelmed because the old way of authoritative, directive leadership style is simply not working anymore. And why would it? With great opportunities for talent everywhere, companies must not only be competitive in the marketplace but also as an employer.

What are the 3 Enablers

Now, instead of cementing stereotypes about Gen Z, let's dive into the three enablers that will allow you to improve your collaboration and results immediately. Most likely, you'll also feel much more at home at work.

But first … let me tell you the story that shows most clearly how even most unlikely collaborations can work well, if and only if three core conditions are met.?

The Origin: Yosemite Big Wall Climbing

I sat in Camp 4, the climber's campground in Yosemite, devastated. After preparing over one year for climbing El Capitan, one of the most iconic peaks in the rock climbing world, it became clear that me and my partner Santiago were not ready. We were both greenhorns, about 25 at the time, quite new to climbing and the challenge would be too big for us.

What I did not know. close to me was sitting Bob, devastated as well. After climbing for 30 years, Bob had only one dream: to climb El Capitan as his last major achievement of his career. He was experienced but lacked a partner who to go up with.

We were separated by 30 years but only 30 meters.

As campground neighbours, Bob and I met over a beer. It wasn't love at first sight.

Bob was minimum 30 years older than me, didn't seem very fit, had an unhealthy taste for diet coke and was what now you'd call a Trumper. Not the best base for a wonderful collaboration you might think. What I didn't know: In spite of these differences, Bob was one of the most wonderful human beings that I have ever met.

But, we had three conditions in place that allowed us to not only collaborate but become really, really close friends. I believe that if these conditions are in place, any team no matter how diverse in generation, gender, culture, or political view can collaborate and be highly successful.

1. We shared the same goal
2. We understood our needs
3. We resolved conflicts constructively

The same goal: Bob and I had the same goal. We wanted to get up El Capitan. Badly! This is the glue that bound us together. This is what let us embark on a mission to collaborate in the first place. This was our north star and objective. Without that goal we would have never made the effort to collaborate in the first place, we would have never become friends.

Understand our needs: Setting up camp on the evening of day 1 of our big wall climb on a portaledge (a platform that you hang from the wall to sleep on), I learned one thing about Bob. He was afraid of heights! This seemed unbelievable to me. How would a person who is afraid of heights go for such an endeavor? It turned out that his need was sleeping close to the wall side of the portaledge where he would feel safe. I agreed and took the "airy" side, being able to look hundreds of meters down into the abyss from my bedside. Bob communicated his needs effectively, and I understood them. We found a solution that met both our needs.

Resolving conflicts constructively: When venturing on a five-day wall climb, conflicts are inevitable. For example, who is allowed to use the bathroom first thing in the morning? However, understanding each other's needs allowed us to resolve them constructively. The truth is: people are very willing to collaborate in solutions that respect their needs! I slept on the outside, while he was able to sleep on the inside. Bob led some hard aid pitches that would have scared me to death, while I did the airy rigging work under the portaledge.

?How to Apply It

Struggling to collaborate across generations, cultures, or political gaps? Try this:

1. How clear is your goal? Do you have a very clear goal defined? Does everyone buy into this goal? For which reasons? Does everyone have the same understanding of what the goal means? Often, in organizations the goal or target picture is not as clear as "getting up on top of El Capitan in 4 days" but something wobbly, empty, and meaningless that everyone agrees to on the surface but not in their hearts.
2. How well do you understand each other's needs? How well do you understand the needs of your collaborators? If your co-worker would have one free wish what would it be? Why? What's the wish of your team members, your superior, and the IT guys that you are collaborating with? If you can't say, you are not alone. Most teams don't know each other's needs and never take the time to find out.
3. How well do you resolve conflicts constructively? How vulnerable are you willing to get in front of the team? How vulnerable are they willing to get? The level of openness (the opposite of politics) shows the amount of trust, which is the very basis for resolving conflict constructively. You can create solutions that people are willing to agree and implement if they meet their needs. In order to know their needs, you need to earn their trust. This is why the best negotiators do not employ simple hard-ball negotiation tactics but instead try to understand their negotiation partner.

When I texted Bob a few years back, he told me:

"It's great to hear from you and keep living your dreams. One day you will wear out and the memories or photos will be all there is left. Trust me, I am there currently.”?― Bob

By collaborating across generations, cultures, and political views, we can make our dreams come true. It was Bob's last time he climbed El Cap and my first time. He could not have done it without me and I could not have done it without him.

But what's even better: in the process of pursuing a wild, unrealistic, extreme goal we became very, very good friends.

I wish you the same in your endeavors!

Stay tuned and climb your peaks!

Oliver

PS: Who should read this episode of The ASCENT? Forward it to them and let them know you are thinking of them.

PPS: If you're struggling with collaboration in your business, let's talk about a tried and tested keynote that will foster understanding and collaboration. Promise.

PPPS: In the next newsletter, I will go deeper into a proven communication technique that will allow you to deal with conflicts more productively –?in your family, in your sports team, and in the office. Stay tuned!