DIFFERENT GENERATIONAL WORKING GROUPS

The workplace has changed dramatically in recent years.  Many Boomers are in senior or management roles are increasingly considering retirement or part-time work.  Workers in their “prime”, the Generation X, should be taking over key roles as Boomers move on, but there are simply not enough of them.  This leaves a gap in the most vulnerable age range for management and leadership positions in organizations.   Employees in their 30’s and 40’s are in their peak working years.  Generation Y is found to be willing but most of them are not always ready to move into management and leadership positions vacated by Boomers.

Different generational groups working closely together can be challenging at times.  People from different generations and age groups generally have a rather different attitudes, values, beliefs and motivations from one another.  These differences can easily lead to:

• misunderstanding,
• miscommunication and
• even outright conflict in the workplace.

The way in which people see the world, has significant implications for the way in which we

• treat,
• work with, and
• value other people.

It is therefore very useful to appreciate how each of the different generations sees both the workplace and the world in general.

 

Shared from:

Generational Management

Topic Cartoons

April 30, 2012 by Dr. Jon Warner