35 Doug Hagedorn, Ph.D. Dr. Hagedorn (Leadership Studies, '23) is a Fortune 100 executive and provides teaching, training, and coaching in servant leadership. Introduction Generativity is one way leaders can impact future generations. The genesis of the concept of generativity dates back to Erik Erikson.1 Erikson discussed eight identity stages of people; the seventh stage concerns generativity or guiding the next generation.2 Erikson defined generativity as concern for the next generation and “the world it inherits.”3 Although leaders might express some care for the next generation by passing on ideas, values, traditions, knowledge, and things that outlive themselves through teaching, mentoring, coaching, altruism, and discipleship, they might not be more intentional about generativity. Generativity is “a feeling of mattering, of creating lasting value, of passing your very self on to others.”4 According to Dan McAdams and Ed de St. Aubin, generativity is about “creating and producing things, people, and outcomes that are aimed at benefiting, in some sense, the next generation, and even the next.”5 Generative expressions may include, “Teaching, mentoring, leading, parenting, counseling, creating, and other forms of nurturance and activism.”6 Corey Keyes and Carol Ryff stated that “generativity is fundamental to individuals feeling good about themselves and for judging their lives as worthwhile and meaningful.”7 Generativity increases life satisfaction, self-esteem and well-being and may bring feelings of usefulness, purpose, and meaning in life.8 According to Jake Womick, Brenda Atherton, and Laura King, the global experience of meaning in life emerges when “a person feels their life has profound or lasting importance (existential Christian Leaders and Finding Purpose and Meaning through Generativity
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