Multiple Generations In The Work-Place
Successful organizations will strive to optimize among their employees that feeling of ownership that motivates them to their best efforts, but how do you optimize ownership?
You must be committed to engaging your employees by better understanding who they are and what they think, feel, and believe. You must appreciate the diversity on your workforce and the uniqueness of every individual. The first step is to gain a perspective and understanding of how they think and how they perceive the world.
For the first time in history, we are dealing with four unique generations in the workplace at the same time. Those generations show distinct preferences in what they want and need. Being involved will mean something different to each employee. Their expectations for job satisfaction will differ.
To better engage them in their jobs so that they want to stay and help build your organization, you need to understand those preferences and adjust your approach. This is not the first time that multiple generations have worked in the same environment. It has long been common, for example, for father, son, and grandpa to work together on the family farm or in the family store. What has changed in our times is the disparity in their outlook and values. Each generation has experienced a dramatically different world that has influenced their hopes, ambitions, and expectations in life.
Recently, we were chatting with a group that included baby boomers, Gen-Xers, and millennials. We began talking about whether high schools should use metal detectors for security. One of the millennials shrugged. He had experienced them and recognized the clear need. To him they were the norm. The older generations seemed appalled at the prospect.
That’s just one example of how the generations that are represented on your staff may view the world, and your work culture, differently. You will find many variations within each generation, of course. Though you must be careful not to label people, you can observe societal trends that will inform your style of leadership. (Refer to the Graphics)
leaders must be strategic in their attempt to address the issue and create an inclusive and diverse environment where ALL employees, regardless of their demographics, are encouraged to participate. As long as organizations are able to properly prepare and address this trend, the generational differences should only help to add value to the workforce.
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