A Generative Place…
Thought-Starter:
“Generativity is a system’s capacity to produce unanticipated change through unfiltered contributions from broad and varied audiences.”
Context:
I was reminded of the term ‘generativity’ by a close friend years ago on a special pilgrimage. I thought I was aware of what it meant, but in looking more deeply realized it had much more richness. For the purposes of this post, let me define it as “an adult’s concern for and commitment to the well-being of future generations. In other words, creativity that lasts. Generativity is about generating good things (and people).”
In his article on Generativity Dan P. McAdams also talks about caring for those things (and people) that are generated, with an eye toward promoting the next generation. In generativity, we come to accept that we won’t live forever, and seek to leave a positive legacy for the future, to leave a part of ourselves behind.
According to noted psychoanalyst Erik Erikson, people begin to focus their lives on generativity as they move into their thirties, forties, and fifties. In the middle-adult years, Erikson wrote, a person may come to realize that “I am what survives me.”
The first aspect of generativity is a powerful extension of the self, while the second aspect is almost selfless. It is not enough to make something in your own image. You must care for what you make, nurture and love it, sacrifice yourself for it, and eventually let it go. Letting go is not easy.
A growing body of psychological research shows that being highly generative is a sign of psychological health and maturity. People who score high on measures of generativity tend to report higher levels of happiness and well-being in life, compared to people who score low. High generativity is also associated with low levels of depression and anxiety.
So how does this apply to a business context?
Adults can be generative in many different ways — as parents, teachers, mentors, leaders, friends, neighbors, volunteers, and citizens. As business leaders, aren’t these the kind of people we’re really looking for? Those able to transcend their own agendas and help build companies and organizations that matter.
And, generativity takes us beyond the short-term gains we often seek in daily life and orients us to the long run. What do you imagine when you picture the something better that will outlive you? As a leader, how is your enterprise making the world a better place?
What we’re talking about here is really contribution. How you and your employees are contributing to the work culture and culture at large. How you are seeing your work world as connected to a higher societal purpose beyond just generating jobs and revenue.
I believe that the most generative people are constantly envisioning a better world for themselves, their families, and their society. When you imagine the future this way, it begins to show you something much larger than yourself.
Prophetic & Insightful Teachers:
There are not as many direct quotes that speak to this idea of generativity. They tend to lean towards being generous or having generosity, but those are a different thing.
To understand, desire, and then consciously put into play an environment of generativity is something that can and should fall directly into a leader’s court. You need to create a place of generativity that is inviting, nurturing and purposeful.
Dan P. McAdams says, “We can all experience generativity by giving birth -- by creating a business, a song, a piece of sculpture, a resolution of a problem, a scientific theory, a recipe, an article, a novel, a hybrid rose.”
And Erick Erikson gives us the bottom line: “what we generate moves into the future and provides for those coming after us.”
The Invisible Obvious:
I guess what I’m trying to say here is, this whole idea of generativity seems to be a lost art. We are so caught up in society’s ‘productivity mindset’ that we don’t pause to ask the deeper question. Why are these people really here?
The two faces of generativity are power and love, forces that often conflict in people’s lives. Our narcissistic need to develop and expand the self may conflict with our more altruistic need to care for and help others. In generativity, however, we have both. What we generate becomes a legacy of the self, and we care for that legacy selflessly. The fullest expressions of generativity blend power and love.
Can we pause for a moment?
We need to stop and value generativity for what it is. If our concerns are really around creating more inviting work then looking here is a great place to start. It’s not about perks and company swag and faux benefits. It’s about the health of the office environment and creating a space where people are invited to be, grow and feel a sense of investment in their future through community. And, nope, it’s not easy. It requires tremendous intentionality at all levels.
With our workforce having more opportunities to choose where they want to work, we need leaders who want to create a special and unique place for them to contribute. We need leaders to really invest in how they are honestly developing their people.
We can keep pretending that tone and purpose are some marketing or HR function…
Or, or we can make the time to create a place that leads to greater awareness, alignment and accountability from a place of true collaboration and respect.
More on those later…
To learn more about me and my work around greater awareness, integration and accountability and being a trusted support partner please visit invisibleobvious.io.
Thank you Matthew.