The Kids Are Changing (We Are Too)

I heard something the other night that, as shocking as it was, rang true for me—and it’s been echoing ever since. It has everything to do with the challenges we’re all facing these days.

At a parent meeting for my youngest daughter’s school, a teacher shared something that really struck me:

“Five years ago, I’d walk into a class of 25 kids, ready to teach a new topic. Twenty would be right there, ready to go, and five would be confused, needing a bit of help to catch on. Now, it’s flipped. Twenty kids are confused and struggling, and only five are ready to learn.”

Shocking, right? But doesn’t it feel strangely familiar in some way? Are we, like these kids, not also struggling to be present in our lives just to some minimal degree?

If you know me, you know I’m an optimist. Yes, I see this as a symptom of our dopamine-driven, screen-dominated world, where it feels like we’re losing our ability to focus, one taken-for-grated capability at a time. But I try not to dwell on what we’re losing. Instead, I try to keep my mind and heart open to what we might be gaining, or at least uncovering.

I had the chance to explore this topic with my old friend Dave Stachowiak on the Coaching for Leaders podcast, and I’d love to share that conversation with you.

Holding that tension between what we’re definitely losing and what we might be gaining is a perfect example of Yes/And thinking.

This week on Good Authority, I had the pleasure of talking with Wendy Smith, professor at the University of Delaware and co-author of Both/And Thinking. We explored the idea of embracing tensions instead of choosing sides—a principle that’s essential for great leadership, not to mention a happy life.

What strikes me most about Wendy’s work is how relevant it is to healing our divided world. I hope you enjoy the conversation and it gets you thinking about how to apply Yes/And thinking in your own life. Whether you're giving feedback, talking with a neighbor who supports the other candidate on Tuesday, or grappling with some other paradox in your world, remember: real power comes from embracing tension, not avoiding it.

Until next week, stay curious and keep growing.

Warmly,
Jonathan

P.S., while we wait for the results of the election here in the U.S., I wanted to share an incredible and timely history lesson on the long cycle political orders that transcend any one President and both of the parties.  Whoever you are voting for, this episode on The Ezra Klein Show is a great way to expand your mind to the larger narratives at play.🙂

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