Stop Picking on Millennials and Devaluing Gen X’ers

I detest titles. 

They are meaningless.  One message in my seminars is titles are meaningless – they do not define you or your value.  They are arbitrary words given and allow your audience the power to define who you are based on their experiences. 

For example, if you introduce yourself to someone as a “Manager” and that person has a manager who is a micro-managing, self-loathing, make-the-world-a-miserable-place type of manager; they will automatically associate you with their experience. 

I loathe titles.

"Once you label me you negate me." - Soren Kierkegaard  Once you assign an individual a title, no matter what type of title that is, you put your limitations upon that person for living up to – or down to – your expectations.

I despise titles.

My least favorite titles are those given outside of a professional perspective.  I understand the need for titles in the work environment, you cannot get away from it.  However, do not use it to define yourself or your value. Stop introducing yourself as your work title, it is not who you are or what value you provide.

Although, I will admit, my favorite title is one given outside the workplace: Mom. 

I am a Mom.  My son is 23, how that is possible, I have no idea.  He is a Millennial and I am a Gen-X'er. 

If I am going to be labeled as Gen-X, I like to think of it as a reference to X-Men and I would fall somewhere between Storm and Rogue.  I have never subscribed to a certain generation.  According to my son, I am from “back in the day.”

I hear a lot of complaining about generations.  Millennials are impatient, they expect everything to be handed to them without working for it, they are lazy, they have no work ethic, they are impatient and lack focus. 

I know some Millennials that fit that description.  I also know many who do not.  We all generalize.  I ask that you suspend your current belief and preconceptions of Millennials and consider this: they are boundless.

They were born in a world where there are no limitations.  They expect everything to work because the amazing technology and advancements that have been made in their only frame of reference – their lifetime to date.

Gen-X’ers were excited when we got a clock that was digital and it the numbers flipped automatically displaying brilliantly in big numbers.  We were told to work hard and be happy with what you have.  We have seen the complete transition from infancy to advancement and it is a wondrous ride.  We have the infancy, the “can’t be done” to compare the current state of things to; Millennials do not.  They know only of things that can be done, there is always a way. 

Those ways are constantly changing. 

This is a generation that can cure cancer because they were not told that it could not be done.  They challenge – why can’t it be done.  They see the opportunities where others cannot. 

They are a valuable asset in growth – personal and professional.  They have the ideas and mindset that it can be done. 

Gen-X is a valuable asset in growth – personal and professional.  They have the life experience to take those ideas and put them together understanding risk mitigation and preparation.

When you combine the two, it is a powerhouse of unlimited potential. 

No matter what generation you come from – give a person a purpose and fuel their passion and you will see results that will amaze.  When you give them partners that expand, challenge, collaborate and engage those results will go beyond amazing to extraordinary and lead the way to new ideas, solutions and opportunities.

For every Millennial that is condemned, a Gen-X’er is being devalued.   

Would it not be a better world if we looked at all possible resources to achieve greatness?  In our circle of mentors or influencers we open the door for those that are not of our generation or prior, of our background or thoughts?  What would happen if we pulled up a chair at our table for someone completely new to bring a new perspective?

I love getting ideas from those younger than me.  When I ask, “How would you do this?” I love the feedback of “Why do you want to?”  They are not being disrespectful, they need parameters.  What is the point, what do you want to do, who do you want to reach, is there a better way – the answers I provide come with my preconceived ideas of limitations; their answers do not.

I do not or cannot implement all suggestions and sometime they talk in a language that is completely foreign to me; but the one thing it does is get me to release my experience’s chock hold of “can’t” on me.

I also have mentors who are more experience than me and of a different generation.  I love to get ideas from them because their thought processes and perspectives are different. 

We all come from a different view point and when we combine them, we get a much greater sense of what is available within and to us to greater serve ourselves and in turn others.

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As the Founder and Principle of Career Polish, Inc., a national career coaching and practice firm, I am an Executive Brand Strategist, Resume Writer and Career Coach. I work with individual clients, companies and their leadership and teams to identify, strengthen and effectively communicate their brand, engagement, commitment and most importantly – their value - by learning and leveraging LinkedIn, networking, communication, relationship management, presence and influence.
I help people get from where they are in their jobs to where they want to be in their careers.

Click here - CareerPolish.com - to find out more about Career Polish and what we can do to help you.

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