Tool: Responsibilities, needs and fears in generational succession

Responsibilities, Needs and Fears

This tool gives examples of responsibilities, needs and fears for both the older and younger generations.

In your ministry organisation, create opportunities for open and honest sharing between the generations. Help each generation to hear deeply from the other. This will help you greatly!

Use this tool to stimulate your thinking as you do that.

	Fathers and mothers	Young men and women
Responsibilities	Focus on those who are doing the work Impart vision/guide Provide oversight Instruct Affirm/bless Mentor/nurture Build life Care Encourage Hold accountable/correct Resolve conflicts Maintain unity among the team Provide networking for the young men and women Step in if and when necessary (emergency response)	Value the treasure your mothers and fathers give you, and steward it well Focus on the work Handle daily operations Take initiative/plan/organise Generate vision Solve problems Explore and experiment Maintain good relationships with the Fathers and Mothers Communicate with the Fathers and Mothers Honor the Fathers and Mothers Care for the Fathers and Mothers
	Fathers and Mothers, you have a unique role – if you don’t fill it, no one else will. No one else can!
Needs	Relevance To be included/informed in significant issues, not just token ones To be genuinely heard Opportunities to speak deeply Fellowship Care – both practical and spiritual Security Honor Appreciation	Empowerment Trust Freedom to explore their responsibilities Allowance for mistakes Encouragement Protection Accountability Correction Guidance Wisdom Networking assistance
Fears	The mission and vision will be changed What they’ve sacrificially built over their lifetime will be quickly discarded for some new idea. The important things and the spiritual heritage will be lost They will have no meaning, no relevance, no identity They will have no role, no engagement Loss of continuity Loss of control Loss of the comfort and status they have “earned” Their life of experience and wisdom will be wasted They will be cut off financially They may be replaced by someone better Exposure of skeletons Vulnerability Loss of position and respect The unknown They will be cut off by the people they once served They will be ignored Cultural fears and expectations; for example, loss of face The current field of potential successors are not mature enough	Succession will never happen They won’t be given freedom They will be dominated The Fathers and Mothers don’t want to give up control They may fail They are unqualified; they have not been sufficiently built They will not be recognized They will never measure up to the older generation’s expectations They will never be trusted They won’t be accepted They won’t be taken seriously They will be forsaken

Listen to the responsibilities, needs and fears of the other generation! Put yourself in their place. And whatever you wish that the other generation would do to you, do also to them!