The Association Blog

Next up in this series of high-level takeaways that had the room buzzing, we take a look at leading across generations

Every leader in animal welfare knows that the work moves fast, the stakes run high, and every situation comes with a built-in level of layered complexity. At The Network Live, held the day before The Annual Conference in November, we hit the pause button long enough to consider more closely what leadership looks now—and will look like in the future.

In Part I of this series, Lily Yap shared three archetypes of emerging leaders. Part II offers high-level takeaways outlined by Shawn K. Woods, a powerhouse in leadership development and organizational excellence who’s delivered more than 3,500 change-sparking keynotes and trainings worldwide.

In his session on “Bridging the Gap: Communicating to Connect, Elevate and Lead Across Generations,” Woods emphasized that communication is:

• 55% body language
• 38% tone
• 7% words

Leaders, shared Woods, must communicate with intention. He introduced his C.A.R.E. adaptive communication model, which teaches leaders how to adjust their presence and approach to better connect with staff — especially across generations.

The C.A.R.E. Model

C is for Curiosity
You cannot lead people you aren’t genuinely curious about. Woods urged leaders to ask better questions and check their assumptions, particularly their assumptions about younger staff.

A is for Awareness
Be aware of the energy you bring into a room. Your body language and tone are communicating long before your words arrive.

R is for Relevance
Make your message matter to the person in front of you. It’s not enough for something to be important. It must feel relevant.

E is for Empowerment
Here’s where Woods dropped a major truth bomb: “You cannot motivate anyone who doesn’t have a burning desire to do it.” Leaders don’t light the fire. They simply create an environment where people are willing, and even eager, to step toward the flame.

What aspect of The C.A.R.E. Model most resonates with you?