The most challenging cultural challenge facing Human Resources Professionals is dealing with generations. This according to a poll released today by Max Impact of Rochester Hills, Michigan.
Respondents were asked to select their two most challenging workplace cultures from a randomly sorted list including Ethnic, Gender, Generational, Orientation, Race, Religious, and other.
An overwhelming 31 percent selected generational as one of their two choices, beating out second place Ethnic by a two-to-one margin. Coming in third was religious at 15 percent and gender placed fourth with 13 percent of respondents selecting it.
There are four generations working side-by-side in today's workplace with another generation, Millennials, entering college and the workforce as they begin graduating from high school.
Each generation has their own assets, liabilities, and quirks that need to be understood before the generations are able to co-exist successfully in a high-performance workplace.
Most obvious is the propensity to use technology. The Builder Generation, and many Baby Boomers, prefers to have important information disseminated in writing instead of email and instant messaging preferred by younger counterparts. Generation X wants up to date technology, including the laptop computers with the latest version of Windows and Microsoft Office loaded. Generation Y covets workplaces that are on the cutting edge of technology and social marketing.
Often employees look at the other generations as "stuck in their ways", "uncooperative", "disrespectful", "job hoping", "too demanding", or "flighty". These have been randomly placed in the list, but you know which ones are held by your generation and which are views of your generation by another generation.
The secret to harmony in the workplace in understanding how each employee's own generational culture formed it's cultural characteristics followed by understanding how other generations formed their own generational DNA. Employees tend to be more inclusive of other generations once they have come to this reality, particularly if lead through self-awareness by a trained facilitator.
Managers can create strong teams once they have also developed generational awareness and overcome the fear of getting generations to interact on self-motivated teams. See a marketing webpage for the workshop Managing Builder, Boomers, Xs, and Ys (without losing your Zs to learn more about the types of outcomes that should be realized from generational diversity training.
Surprisingly, orientation fell to fifth place, capturing only 9 percent of the responses. In a similar Max Impact survey in 2007, orientation was the top concern.
In the "other" category, political cultures garnered one-third of the write-in votes cast, indicating the nation's growing political divide is creeping into the workplace. Political analysts have been noting that average citizens are becoming more vocal, particularly following the Tea Party movement.
For more information
- Cultural bridges, a collection of information about almost two dozen categories of culture.
- Learn more about the Builder Generation
- Learn more about the Boomer Generation
- Learn more about Generation X
- Learn more about Generation Y
- Learn more about Millennials
Video
Here is a moving video called "The Lost Generation". You will not understand the power of its message unless you view more than half.
Comments
Until recently, there was a real "Lost" Generation, but now it's been found and has taken over the leadership of this country: Generation Jones. Born 1954-1965, between the Boomers and Xers, it should be included in blogs like this, lest they look out-of-date and not up with trends. In fact, the Associated Press' annual Trend Report chose the Rise of Generation Jones as the #1 trend of 2009. Your piece makes some good points, Rick, but you need to get up to speed with the most current generational thinking.
Thank you, What's Now, for the shout out about Generation Jones. In actuality all generations has a cusp births. It is similar to Zodiak signs which have people on the "cusp". Born under one sign but displying characteristics of another.
Generation Jones is a cusp generation and as such covers a period of time shorter than is generally given to a generation, at least until 10-year-olds start having children. Therefore many generational observers do not include it.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!