Does generational diversity manifest itself in the workplace?
Ali Ahlam Nawaz
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When people are born at separate times, they form a generational gap. It has the potential to influence how people behave and think at work.
Members of the silent generation, for example, are sometimes portrayed as fiscally conservative, whereas baby boomers are more likely to be fiscally liberal. Although everyone, irrespective of age, is an individual with a unique personality type, you may notice common qualities associated with each generation playing out right in front of you.?In the workplace, there is a lot of common ground between various ages. Most of us like to feel appreciated at work. We also like the sensation of making a difference and contributing to the betterment of ourselves and others.
There's a chance you'll be under the supervision of older, more experienced (and occasionally more qualified) employees. In their messages, younger team members tend to use more slang and acronyms. Emojis are more likely to be used in communications by senior team members. If not handled upfront, these might cause a rift among team members.
The generations you may see in the workplace today and what defines them:
Generation Z
Gen Z is focused on the core values of being intelligent, funny, and witty. They may also consider diversity an essential consideration for hiring, especially at the management level. Gen Zers want to work with like-minded individuals who share similar goals and values. This generation's managers should help them develop and grow by providing them with the proper support and resources.
Millennials
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Performance is significant to millennials. They are more concerned with the quality of their work than the number of hours they put in. To ensure that they are being treated fairly, managers should communicate honestly with their employees. The idea of an always-on” work culture is not acceptable to most.
Generation X
Gen Xers are known to be individualistic, having been former latchkey kids. They may also prefer to manage their work and physical and psychological space in a more flexible manner. As a result, they often prefer to work with less supervision and are more comfortable communicating with others through various forms of media such as email and Facebook. Flexibility and a solid work/life balance are non-negotiable for this generation.
Baby boomers
Baby boomers are known for their work ethic and goal-oriented processes. They value face-to-face interaction and traditional recruitment methods. Structure, reliability, and flexible work policies are ideal for this group. Acknowledgement for their skills and hard work will go a long way with this generation, although most employees would likely be grateful.
You?can?reap?the?benefits?of?a?multigenerational?workforce?and?lay?a?better?foundation?for?long-term?success?with?the?appropriate?strategy.?At?the?end?of?the?day,?accepting?that other generation?are?different?from?you?is?the?key?to?understanding?and?appreciating?them.