Stay Gold

1967. Tulsa…

A 16-year-old noticed a massive gap in how people communicated

We can still grow from her story today.

S.E. (Susie) Hinton wrote The Outsiders because she was tired of adults talking down to kids. Shortly after it was published, she wrote an op-ed in The New York Times titled: 

"Teenagers are for Real."

Her words hit just as hard right now:

“All we hear is how teenagers are rebelling against authority, against country, against parents. This is partly true. It is more true that all we are doing most of the time is asking, ‘Why?’ and getting as an answer, ‘Because it’s always been done that way.’”

She went on to say:

“If there were more stopping and explaining “why” it’s always been done this way, there’d be more understanding. Understanding breeds communication.”

Whether we are leading teenagers, a team, or entire organizations, people need more than just instructions.

Understanding. Breeds. communication.

Give them the “why”.

When we take the time to explain the why, we create understanding. And understanding opens the door to real communication.

That’s where we find “beauty in the fold.”

If there is a takeaway for leaders everywhere, it is this:

Don’t underestimate people. 

Don’t talk down to them. 

Explain the why.

That is part of what it means to Stay Gold.