CFUW Wolfville at the Wolfville Legion

On Wednesday I had the pleasure of speaking with the members and guests of the CFUW Wolfville at the Wolfville Legion.

It was a wonderful afternoon, filled with thoughtful conversation, great questions, and yes… a really lovely tea.

But more than that, it was a chance to talk about something I think many of us are feeling right now, even if we haven’t quite found the words for it.

The generational divide.

In my work over the past two decades in recruitment, coaching, and building teams, and in my time volunteering in our communities, I have seen this gap from every angle. I have worked with people just starting out and those leading entire organizations. And across the board, there is a common tension.

We are asking:

Who is coming next?

Are they ready?

Will they step up?

At the same time, the next generation is asking:

Is there room for me?

Will I be trusted?

Will I be supported as I learn?

And somewhere in between those questions, things can stall.

One of the biggest takeaways I shared is this:

The issue is not that one generation is right and the other is wrong. The issue is that we are often misunderstanding each other.

We talk about younger people as if they lack work ethic, when often they are looking for meaning and balance.

We talk about more experienced leaders as resistant to change, when often they are carrying years of responsibility and hard-earned wisdom.

Both sides have something incredibly valuable to offer.

But that only works if we build the bridge between them.

And that bridge is mentorship.

Real mentorship. Not just advice, but trust. Not just guidance, but opportunity. Not just oversight, but the willingness to let someone try, and yes, sometimes fail.

Because if we never let people try, they never become capable.

If we never let them struggle, they never build confidence.

If we never step back, they never step forward.

I shared that I am feeling this in my own life right now too, not just professionally, but as a mom. I am moving into the coaching stage of parenting, where I am giving advice when asked and watching from the sidelines as my boys figure things out for themselves.

Is it easy? Not even a little.

But it is necessary.

And I think leadership in organizations is not that different.

If we hold on too tightly, if we keep all the responsibility, if we don’t mentor along the way, we don’t create strong teams. We create dependence. And eventually, that holds everything back.

The legacy we leave is not just in what we build.

It is in who we prepare to carry it forward.

That is true in business.

It is true in volunteer organizations.

And it is true in our communities.

So my takeaway, and the thought I will leave here as well, is this:

If we want the future to be strong, we need to be more intentional about how we bring others along.

A little more patience.

A little more openness.

A little more willingness to share what we know.

And maybe most importantly, a little more grace for one another.

Thank you again to CFUW Wolfville for the invitation, the warm welcome, and the meaningful discussion. I truly appreciated being part of it.