Column "Nine To Five": Pitch, pitch, hooray!

FAZ column highlights how older colleagues in the dynamic working world futilely attempt to keep up with younger professionals through "professional youth" strategies. This reaction to power struggles by younger employees undermines credibility and appears inauthentic.

In a working world increasingly characterized by dynamism and generational change, companies and educational institutions are observing how younger professionals are positioning themselves with emphasis. This sometimes leads to unusual reactions among experienced colleagues, even to the point of adopting a youthful attitude in order to keep up in the competition for influence and relevance. This development, which has the potential to sustainably influence corporate culture, is the subject of current debates and deserves critical consideration, especially with regard to leadership positions and career paths.

The phenomenon of the "professional youth," i.e., those older employees who desperately try to emulate the younger ones, reveals a deeper insecurity in many organizations. Where experience and consistency were once considered indisputable advantages, agility, digital affinity, and a certain nonchalance now seem to be gaining the upper hand. Executives who cannot make this transition organically sometimes resort to imitations that neither appear authentic nor generate the desired respect. Instead, a bizarre dynamic arises that can lead to internal irritation and undermine the credibility of established hierarchies.

The consequences of these behavioral patterns are far-reaching. For the individual employee, whether young or experienced, this can mean that communication becomes more complex and mentoring relationships are made more difficult. For the company, in turn, it carries the risk of a loss of competence if the valuable knowledge of older generations is not appropriately appreciated or passed on because the focus is unilaterally on mere adaptation to perceived youthfulness. Authentic leadership and the appreciation of all generations are more crucial here than copying trends.

The significance for MBA applicants

For prospective MBA students and future leaders, these observations are of immense relevance. An MBA program not only imparts specialist knowledge and strategic thinking but also prepares students for the complex challenges of personnel management and generational management. The ability to motivate heterogeneous teams, integrate different perspectives, and shape a corporate culture that promotes both innovation and stability is becoming a key competency. Anyone deciding on an MBA program should be aware that it is about developing a leadership personality that acts authentically and does not merely imitate superficial trends.