If the young will inherit the Earth, shouldn't we be listening says Lynn Richards-Cole, Associate Director, Perkins Slade Ltd

As the title of this blog suggests, I’d like to talk about the young in business and how those of us more advanced in years should be paying close attention to their development and creating an environment that allows them to thrive.

As there is a wealth of brilliant quotes on this subject, I thought I'd structure this blog around three of my favourites.

"We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future" Franklin D. Roosevelt

It sounds obvious, but creating a winning team to inspire the fresh talent in your organisation is key to their development. Select the right people for the right jobs, and focus on the prerequisites of commitment, enthusiasm, talent, and above all, common sense. As young people start out in their career, it's important that they buy into the company's clearly defined short, medium and long term strategic goals, mapping out their personal development and showing how they align with the company's vision.

"Praise youth and it will prosper" Irish proverb

Holding self esteem and having confidence in your abilities are things that tend to increase with age and experience. The young trainee may possess very little of either. Create a positive 'can do' culture based on the customer coming first, and lead a team ethic based on mutual respect and support. Businesses can respond to changes in the marketplace quickly by setting up channels that encourage open communication - it's the young people in your organisation that are most likely to be driving the business forward at ground level, so its essential that they understand the decisions at the top.

"It is all that the young can do for the old, to shock them and keep them up to date" George Bernard Shaw

Establish an environment that encourages innovation, from trainee to board level, and lead your industry from the front with new ideas. Banish corporate politics and silos that can hinder young people from speaking up with their alternative perspective on your business and its practices. Remove the barriers between the mailroom and the boardroom and let young people refresh your thinking. Most of all, keep a sense of humour, celebrate success and stay calm! Remember, you were young once!

About the author Lynn Richards-Cole, Birmingham Forward Member & Associate Director, Perkins Slade Ltd Lynn has spent her entire working life in Insurance. She expanded her horizons in 2005 when she and her Co-Director sold their Company to Perkins Slade, where she continues to deliver insurance expertise to mid-market Corporate clients. Her Industry contributions include , Past West Midlands Chairman of the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA); BIBA West Midlands Conference Chairman for 7 Consecutive Years; and she sits on the Advisory Board of the Chartered Insurance Institute's Faculty of Insurance Broking. Lynn is Deputy Chairman of the Hospital Saturday Fund Cash Plan, where her Board activities take her to their operations in London, Glasgow, Dublin and Ennis. Lynn is an enthusiastic ambassador of Birmingham, she says it's a vibrant place to work and a great place to live!