Generational Gaps In The World And Understanding Them

Hello to all and well here we are on another beautiful day. It is of a concern to me and would love to share this concern with the world out there. Times are changing all around us at home,work with relationships. The world is changing at a pace that most people cannot keep up.

The changes that are happening at work are of a concern due to leadership not being able to understand how to manage knowledge. You have so many generations that are going to have be able to learn from each other making difficult to understand the difference. Running an operation takes more then just having the position of power it takes more knowledge which many leadership are lacking in today's corporations.

Every generation  has made its own commotion as they start going into the workforce and what is the one thing that is common with all generations?" They say they do not get or understand us"

Let us take a look at this chart to get a better understanding of differences of the generations most organizations are involved with.

Personal and Lifestyle Characteristics by Generation

	Veterans (1922-1945)	Baby Boomers (1946-1964)	Generation X (1965-1980)	Generation Y (1981-2000)
Core Values	Respect for authority Conformers Discipline	Optimism Involvement	Skepticism Fun Informality	Realism Confidence Extreme fun Social
Family	Traditional Nuclear	Disintegrating	Latch-key kids	Merged families
Education	A dream	A birthright	A way to get there	An incredible expense
Communication Media	Rotary phones One-on-one Write a memo	Touch-tone phones Call me anytime	Cell phones Call me only at work	Internet, Email Picture phones Texting
Dealing with Money	Put it away Pay cash	Buy now, pay later	Cautious Conservative Save, save, save	Earn to spend
Work Ethics And  Values	Hard work Respect for Authority Sacrifice Duty before fun Adhere to rules	Workaholics Work efficiently Crusading causes Personal fulfillment Desire quality Question authority	Eliminate the task Self-reliance Want structure and direction Skeptical	What’s next Multitasking Tenacity Entrepreneurial Tolerant Goal oriented
Work Is…	An obligation	An exciting adventure	A difficult challenge A contract	A means to an end Fulfillment
Leadership Style	Directive Command and control	Consensual Collegial	Everyone is the same Challenge others Ask why	*TBD
Interactive Style	Individual	Team player Loves to have meetings	Entrepreneur	Participative
Communications	Formal Memo	In person	Direct Immediate	Email Voice mail
Feedback and Rewards	No news is good news Satisfaction in a job well done	Don’t appreciate it Money Title recognition	Sorry to interrupt, but how am I doing? Freedom is the best reward	Whenever I want it, at the push of a     button Meaningful work
Messages That Motivate	Your experience is respected	You are valued You are needed	Do it your way Forget the rules	You will work with other bright, creative people
Work and Family Life	Ne’er the twain shall meet	No balance Work to live	Balance	Balance

*As this group has not spent much time in the workplace, this characteristic has yet to be determined.    http://ww/fdu.edu/newspubs/magazine Winter/Spring 2005

 

I believe that the way we manage people will either make the organization stronger or break the people down and ruin the organization. I like this chart because it makes it much easier to understand where you are as a leader and gives you a guide on how to more or less manage people. However I have stated before that we are in an age where it requires constant change and just telling people and expecting them to know via directive, command or control well it is a waste of time and you will be challenged if you are this type of leader and the of course you will not like it and frustration will set in.

Have you ever thought about the impact regarding traits and biases from different generations. If leaders have a better understanding of this and the diversity they face today they will have to implement tools within their organizations to be able to adapt to the changes quickly enough to be able to compete.

As leaders move forward with the new shifts regarding generational gaps without having the tools of understanding and having the skills to implement change then you might as well hang up the gloves and look for another job because you will be so frustrated with yourself because you will be dealing with a new type of risk that come with generation gaps. 

Each person that is hired has a different background and they will affect our thoughts and behaviors and ultimately outcomes that will result the way leaders manage them.

In order to survive the changes that are coming you as a leader must understand the changes when you see them and be able to implement change and be able to implement the tools for adaptation to take place within your organization.