I just had a great client call that took an interesting twist. Part of the conversation led us to discuss their workforce of 20-somethings and how quickly they were brought to tears, regardless of the topic. It was a stark reminder that this is the generation (now 20 – 28) who came of age, the transition from childhood to adulthood, during a global pandemic. They were sent home from school, isolated from friends and high school events like sports – pivotal to learning how to navigate in society. They missed out on the prom and graduation, significant experiences during a time that is supposed to be about celebrating an epic milestone. Even the college-aged young adults were left to navigate the challenges alone, and college students were impacted as their classes were moved online. It’s possible that many were emotionally abandoned, assuming they were adult enough to mentally handle the events. The focus shifting to the younger kids while adults grappled with navigating the “new normal.”
The 20-somethings have become the new sandwich generation. Sandwiched between children and adults, stuck in the limbo of the neutral zone (Bridges, 1967) abandoned to function as adults without the ability or context to do so. The younger kids were highly protected from the stress of the events, or simply did not have the mental agility to fully understand them. The adults had enough life experience and support network to navigate with some degree of certainty, albeit stressful, that the young adults simply did not have. Four years later, the younger kids have re-entered life as it was, a return to school and activities, resilient in their youth; adults have returned to life as normal. But what about the younger generation – the 20-smomethings. They have been left to navigate the complexity and uncertainty alone.
Societally they are considered adults, they can drive, most can purchase cigarettes, enlist in the military, vote, and more, but physiologically, they are not. I am reminded of the brain and how it functions, as best as we know. The amygdala hi-jack is a real thing. The amygdala is a walnut sized gland located deep in the hypothalamus, the neural holding space for emotional memory. The frontal cortex responsible for executive or higher-level decision-making is not fully formed until the mid-20s. It explains why teenage behavior can seem so erratic; they’re often functioning from those emotional experiences rather than the reasoning of informed decision making that comes from time, experience, and a developed frontal cortex. This sounds like, “that was fun, lets do that again" regardless of the risk or consequences.
Of course, I am making some broad assumptions and generalizations. I’m sure not all young adults experienced this degree of emotional abandonment. Even so, what post-pandemic support has been offered to them? I’m reminded of the words of Michon Garemani, certified trauma coach, we’re all living a unique human experience, perhaps completely new to us in this exact moment https://fb.watch/tqoxumrrnl/. Collectively, we’ve all been through a global trauma. The relief of back to normal came and went with a mutual sigh of relief and an eagerness to return to normal. But, in our movement forward, have we left some behind?
What does all of this mean for leaders?
How are these 20-somethings showing up at work? Are our organizational leaders equipped to handle the emotional challenges of a generation potentially stuck in an amygdala hi-jack? In a different conversation with Michon, we discussed the body’s response to trauma. We were comparing stories of how our sub-conscious mind, even a sleep or fugue state, is able to traverse significant obstacles in order to survive. Left to function like this over a long period of time, is it possible that this learned behavior of survival is the new normal for an entire generation – an entire generation functioning in a zombie-like state of existence? How do we forge a path forward to help a lost generation? As this group of humans enters the workplace how will we show up and lead this group of young adults to a better place with compassion and empathy, recognizing that they have had a highly unique and traumatic experience that has shaped their entire consciousness? A whole new question for leaders and mental health experts.
Join me in igniting a compassion evolution. ~d
As someone who has studied the brain and worked with youth at various stages of development, I can confidently say that our 20-something generation faces unique challenges in societal integration, particularly in the workplace. Are workplace leaders equipped to guide them from trauma to healing within a professional environment? If you think this isn't your problem or duty, that mindset is exactly what keeps organizations from reaching their full potential. Leaders cannot exclude themselves from participating in the healing revolution. To be called a leader is to take on this responsibility.
First, leaders must embody the qualities of emotional stability and resilience they wish to impart. One cannot pour from an empty cup. Therefore, the empathy and compassion we want…