On my way to a retreat at the Modern Elder Academy, I wonder what is a modern elder? As opposed to what? An old school elder? An old hipster? A wise old crone? ( by far my favorite descriptor l). Would they attract participants to the wise old crone academy? Hmm. Maybe not.
Advertised to folks over 50, I wonder if wisdom comes from age? The word elder implies an honored place within a group. Someone whose words carry influence. Someone respected for who they are -what they have said or done.
Are the 18 Vistage Best Practice Chairs attending to learn how to be modern elders? Or to understand how to use our role within the Vistage community as elders to better effect? Or, as I suspect, curiosity/FOMO. Got invited, saw who else was invited and said “hell, yes!” That would be most Vistage Chairs I know.
Constantly learning may be a signature attribute of elders. Synthesizing the data Into usable frameworks for analysis and action . Listening deeply and mirroring back. Creating a safe space in an unsafe and chaotic world. It is an honorable title -elder. Modern or not.
More to come…..
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