Barbara Wittmann leads the Digital Wisdom Collective, where ancient wisdom meets modern tech. Transforming how leaders innovate.
I grew up in a small village in Bavaria. By small, I mean seven houses, each home to two or three generations, making up a community of about 30 people. There was one bus stop and exactly one bus per day to take you to the next town.
I was the youngest in the village, surrounded by elders who had lived through war, carried deep scars and were shaped by experiences I couldn’t yet comprehend. Finding playmates my age was rare, so I befriended everyone. But as I grew older, I became aware of the invisible threads of history that shaped relationships—family ties, old feuds, unresolved pain that spanned generations.
As a child, I didn’t care about any of that. To me, the village was one big playground. But I could sense the weight of the past, the tensions that lingered between those who had known each other their entire lives. And yet, despite my love for my home, I couldn’t wait to leave. I needed to see something different.
Returning To A Changed Village
Years later, when I returned, I found a very different dynamic. The older generation had passed, and the village had transformed. Today, it has a healthy mix of Boomers, Gen X and Millennials living together in a way that was once unthinkable.
What made this shift possible? Nourishment.
Where history once divided, food became the great equalizer. The village found unity through something simple, yet profound: The act of providing for one another. Today, there is a shared bread-baking oven, a communal cold storage for fresh meat and vegetable gardens in nearly every household.
Instead of grudges, people exchange loaves of bread. Instead of silence, there is conversation over fresh produce. Instead of division, there is shared understanding—because when you nourish one another, you break down walls.
And perhaps, the most surprising thing? I love coming back. The sense of belonging I felt as a child is returning, not just because of the place but because of the people.
What Innovation Teams Can Learn From My Village
This transformation isn’t just about my village. It’s a blueprint for how innovation teams must evolve today. The best teams are not built on a single mindset or generation. They thrive when they blend wisdom with fresh perspectives.
But it’s not just about who is in the room, it’s about the common purpose that brings them together. Just as my village found unity in nourishment, innovation teams need a shared framework that transcends individual perspectives.
Nourishment in an innovation team is not food, it’s the exchange of knowledge, support and ideas. In successful teams, nourishment takes different forms:
• Sharing expertise freely, rather than guarding knowledge.
• Supporting one another’s growth, rather than competing for status.
• Creating an environment where everyone has a seat at the table, regardless of experience level.
Without this foundation, even the most talented team will struggle. Just like my village needed something tangible—bread, meat, vegetables—to connect across generations, innovation teams need a culture of shared learning and collective success to move forward together.
How To Build Innovation Teams That Thrive
• Embrace generational diversity: Innovation doesn’t come from one age group, it comes from different perspectives coming together. Foster an environment where experience and fresh thinking are equally valued.
• Create a culture of nourishment: Just as my village evolved by breaking bread together, innovation teams thrive when knowledge, mentorship and opportunities are shared freely. Shift from a scarcity mindset (where people hoard knowledge) to an abundance mindset (where success is built collectively).
• Find a common purpose: Teams that last don’t just work together, they build something meaningful together. Define why you exist beyond tasks and goals. What is the bigger impact your team wants to make?
• Reclaim childlike curiosity: The best solutions often come from those who see the world with fresh eyes and refuse to accept limitations. Encourage exploration, imagination and the willingness to challenge the status quo.
Final Thoughts
Just as my village rediscovered its strength through nourishment and shared purpose, organizations must find their unifying thread—that deeper principle that connects people, fosters collaboration and fuels innovation.
The future will belong to those who dare to see it with the eyes of a child and the mind of a leader. Embrace curiosity over resistance, collective intelligence over hierarchy and shared knowledge over competition.
The best teams, communities and innovations don’t just coexist—they evolve together.
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Read the full article here
