The fact that there will soon be five generations in the workplace at once comes as no surprise. Nor does the certainty that products of Generation Z, those born after the global adoption of the internet and eCommerce, will be vastly different from the four groups to precede them. But before we discuss the skills we all need to productively coexist at the office, let's briefly review a few of our differences ...
The Traditionalist: (Born prior to 1944), this older camp accounts for 13% of the workforce. Old-timers like Warren Buffet and Alfred Mann are great examples of business leaders who prove they still have what it takes to drive results. These are the ones who experienced the bitter reality (or aftermath) of the Great Depression and formed the School of Hard Knocks. They conformed and played by the rules, respecting the opportunity to save every hard earned penny.
Baby Boomers: (Born 1944-1960), account for more than 26% of today's workers. Due to the rising costs of healthcare and retirement, this nose-to-the-grindstone group may be hanging around the office for many years to come. Failed marriages, financial illiteracy, prescription drug abuse and spoiling of children, are just a few other contributing factors to support why this aging bunch is still willing to work harder than you.
Generation X: (Born 1961-1980), we account for roughly 20% of the pool. Being far more computer savvy than our predecessors, we constantly seek an easier and smarter way. We were the first to exploit the need for immediate gratification and are the least loyal to our employers. We've also added to the rise of big egos, who aren't the best at accepting constructive criticism. We carry a lot of debt and are behind on our retirement goals.
Generation Y or Millennials: (Born 1981-2000), this most tech savvy, it's-all-about-me bunch, makes up roughly 28% and the majority of our workforce. The first of all generations to be fully dependent upon and often misguided by social media. To the Millennial, the online reputation is the only one. Many believe that email moves too slow and that they don't need to correct what spell check didn't catch it. This camp remains hopeful that the government will just erase their overwhelming student loans.
Generation Z: (Born after 2000), I refer to this young clique as having "Golden Thumbs". Don't be surprised to receive the first, inaugural text from the Gen Z intern in 2018. Many will be extremely upset when they don't receive a participation award for joining the company. Also, expect employees to Skype their boss before ever taking the elevator to a different floor. Remember, to this group face time is an App. Gen Z will be the easiest of all to be victimized by social marketing. They must learn how to appreciate and hold on to a dollar, or shall I say Bitcoin?
It is not difficult to see the many flavors of the five generations described above. In fact, when I look back at how our society has evolved, I am reminded of the movie, Multiplicity, where Michael Keaton cloned himself many times over and proved how a copy of a copy would degenerate and never be as good as the original. Don't get me wrong. I am not discrediting the many positives, and brilliant advancements of each generation, but I do want to point out how some of our finest skills (and values) are becoming extinct.
So will it be possible for the five groups to bridge the generation gap and form together in a delightful way? My answer is that anything is possible, but for such diverse groups to blend harmoniously and ultimately thrive, a common set of timeless skills needs to be shared while our differences are appreciated.
There are many who condemn tradition, as it can promote complacency and kill innovation. However, this does not mean we should abandon everything from our past that has been demonstrated to work. If we embrace and pursue the following three skills with both care and vigilance, we will do just fine for many generations to come.
1. Communication - This is so much more difficult than it sounds. The art of communication, which would have been another replete blog post of mine if I hadn't already expanded on this topic in Welcome to the Big Leagues, is the concept of having an image in your head and getting others to see the exact same image. This complex process requires the roles of a sender and a receiver. How effective the act or transfer of information is depends on the skills of both parties. For example, spoken and written words are only as efficacious as the active listening, focus and reading comprehension skills of the receiver. Instant Messaging continues to annihilate good writing skills and hiding behind email removes all that is gained by observing facial expression. There is no doubt that Generation Z will need to work hard at developing such skills. CEO's and Corporate Communication teams will also have a difficult time tailoring announcements, strategies and brand messaging that resonates with everybody. A company mission statement is a good example of such communication.
2. Collaboration- Is the act of working together effectively to create, share or produce something. To be deemed as a team player, all biases and egos need to be parked. Everyone must put the team first and share the belief that greater things will by accomplished by working as a group, as opposed to acting alone. Being a productive collaborator is one of the best ways to get yourself noticed, but it requires more than just a strong business acumen. Emotional intelligence is another critical element and prerequisite of being a strong collaborator that many are oblivious towards. Knowing when to lead and recede, or when you struck a nerve that requires damage control are just a couple of the necessary soft skills that you should acquire. Of course proving your a person of integrity also goes a long way.
3. Focus- Today, Gen Y and Gen Z are more distracted than all groups ever before. Between Tweets, Instant Messages and Pop-Ups, the habit of shifting eyes to the most happening screen has fueled a culture that affords only partial focus. Unfortunately, multitasking leads to multi-errors and confusion. The office is no place to be absent minded. Start by allocating your time and effort strategically. Productivity and innovation only comes to those who take the time to concentrate, so put down the mobile device and eliminate distractions (especially when in meetings). We must each select the things that matter most and possess the patience and discipline to do them right! Focus is a skill that we must apply day-in and day-out to ensure that the communication and work we deliver reflect our best. Steve Jobs believed this and attributed focus as one of his keys to success. When his staff provided him with 20 great ideas, Steve honed in on only three. Please do not try to prove otherwise.
This blog post only scratches the surface on providing ways for multiple generations to successfully coexist in the workplace. My book, Welcome to the Big leagues, was written to provide readers with the most valuable insights on how to thrive in any career, no matter how great the number of generations. Of course I strongly recommend the read and also suggest that you engage in The Corporate Rookie Forum for free. Taking part in a business community where like-minded individuals can share knowledge will ultimately help to expand your business acumen and emotional intelligence; which are two of the areas you should be eager to develop right now.
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— Carmine Del Sordi (@BigLeaguesBook) July 20, 2014
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