Does Your Company Suffer from Cross-Generational Crankiness?
Does Your Company Suffer from Cross-Generational Crankiness?
So, why are we having such difficulty as bosses now that we're on the other end of it? Primarily, because of just that: we are the rebels, the ones who demand and lead change; who are these upstarts doing the same back at us?!
They're our kids, that's who, and they learned from the best! But, are their "demands" really so outrageous, and is their work ethic really so far afield from Boomers' that the differences are irreconcilable? In my experience, it is in fact not the differences, but the similarities, that are the sticking-point. And that’s actually great news, because the best of negotiators will tell you that it is from the common-ground that peace is found.
The similarities keeping the two generation's in conflict are akin to a parent/child relationship when it is the fact of their being so alike that keeps them at odds. Both generations value immediate gratification (we Boomers are the progenitors of it), believe in questioning authority (which Boomers introduced in our youth and now for Millennials manifests in rebelling against everything from policies to corporate hierarchies), both understand the challenges of having a two-income family, and both thrive on recognition and compensation for their accomplishments, a fast-paced environment, and open lines of communication. In reality, these two generations have the capacity to work extremely well together.
And interestingly, the Millennials’ expectations are the fundamentals of a better workplace, that “healthy organizational culture” we Boomers demanded & purport to believe in. An organization that provides leadership skills development for all of its employees, sets clear goals/expectations & rewards great performance, and provides regular feedback to that makes each assignment/project both a productivity enhancer and a learning experience, is the proven model for success.
So, is providing a flexible work environment, infusing regular recognition programs for performance excellence, establishing team decision-making/problem-solving as the normal mode of operation, or having open communication and lots of it going to damage the bottom-line? Research has shown quite the opposite, that it is a magnet for the best and the brightest professionals, the formula for great customer service, and the closest to a guarantee for increasing profits that the business world has to offer.
OK, then…if everything is so mutual, what is keeping these two generations from getting along?! What keeps them apart is not what they do & want; it’s how they do it & ask for what they want. And, with some expert intervention and business Coaching for staff at all levels of the organizational chart, your Boomers & Millennials can quickly come to understand what’s getting in their way of appreciating each others’ strengths/recognizing their tremendous similarities, and can come together to become the powerful team for which they have such exceptional potential.
Now that’s progress!
Does Your Company Suffer from CrossGenerational Crankiness - To learn more about this author, visit Terri Benincasa's Website.
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We Boomers certainly understand the concept of a "generation gap" - we were the inspiration for the phrase's coinage. Experts say the greatest corporate headaches come from young workers who demand rewards for the smallest of accomplishments (like, say, showing up each day...), question EVERYTHING, and jump from job to job like Tarzan amidst the trees, and the disdain for them within the Baby Boomer Boss circles.
So, why are we having such difficulty as bosses now that we're on the other end of it? Primarily, because of just that: we are the rebels, the ones who demand and lead change; who are these upstarts doing the same back at us?!
They're our kids, that's who, and they learned from the best! But, are their "demands" really so outrageous, and is their work ethic really so far afield from Boomers' that the differences are irreconcilable? In my experience, it is in fact not the differences, but the similarities, that are the sticking-point. And that’s actually great news, because the best of negotiators will tell you that it is from the common-ground that peace is found.
The similarities keeping the two generation's in conflict are akin to a parent/child relationship when it is the fact of their being so alike that keeps them at odds. Both generations value immediate gratification (we Boomers are the progenitors of it), believe in questioning authority (which Boomers introduced in our youth and now for Millennials manifests in rebelling against everything from policies to corporate hierarchies), both understand the challenges of having a two-income family, and both thrive on recognition and compensation for their accomplishments, a fast-paced environment, and open lines of communication. In reality, these two generations have the capacity to work extremely well together.
And interestingly, the Millennials’ expectations are the fundamentals of a better workplace, that “healthy organizational culture” we Boomers demanded & purport to believe in. An organization that provides leadership skills development for all of its employees, sets clear goals/expectations & rewards great performance, and provides regular feedback to that makes each assignment/project both a productivity enhancer and a learning experience, is the proven model for success.
So, is providing a flexible work environment, infusing regular recognition programs for performance excellence, establishing team decision-making/problem-solving as the normal mode of operation, or having open communication and lots of it going to damage the bottom-line? Research has shown quite the opposite, that it is a magnet for the best and the brightest professionals, the formula for great customer service, and the closest to a guarantee for increasing profits that the business world has to offer.
OK, then…if everything is so mutual, what is keeping these two generations from getting along?! What keeps them apart is not what they do & want; it’s how they do it & ask for what they want. And, with some expert intervention and business Coaching for staff at all levels of the organizational chart, your Boomers & Millennials can quickly come to understand what’s getting in their way of appreciating each others’ strengths/recognizing their tremendous similarities, and can come together to become the powerful team for which they have such exceptional potential.
Now that’s progress!
Does Your Company Suffer from CrossGenerational Crankiness - To learn more about this author, visit Terri Benincasa's Website.
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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Joe DagerJoe Dager is President of Business901, a progressive coaching company providing no-nonsense direction in areas such as Lean Six Sigma Marketing and organized referral marketing. What others say: In the past 20 years, Joe and I have collaborated on many difficult issues. Joe’s ability to combine his expertise with “out of the box” thinking is unsurpassed. He has always delivered quickly, cost effectively and with ingenuity. A brilliant mind that is always a pleasure to work with.” - James R. If you want to learn more about Business901, start a conversation with us. We can be found @ Web/Blog: Business901.com Web/Blog: FundingYourNonprofit.com LinkedIn Profile Follow me on Twitter - Visit Joe Dager's Website |
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Staging DivaDebra Gould, aka The Staging Diva®, is President of Six Elements Inc., an internationally recognized home staging company. Inspired by many requests from aspiring home stagers wanting to start similar businesses, Gould created the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program. Gould has trained over 1000 Staging Diva Graduates worldwide to start staging businesses. Buying decorating and selling six of her own homes in four years lead to an interest in real estate staging which she turned into a career with the launch of sixelements.com in 2002. Since then she has staged hundreds of homes in addition to teaching home staging training. Gould is the author of several home staging resources including a series of popular ebooks made up of a Design Guide, Color Guide and Portfolio Guide. For more information about Debra Gould visit stagingdiva.com. - Visit Staging Diva's Website |
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Linda RichardsonLinda Richardson is the Founder and Executive Chairwoman of Richardson, a global sales training and performance improvement company. As a recognized leader in the industry, she has won the coveted Stevie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sales Excellence and she was identified by Training Industry, Inc. as one of the “Top 20 Most Influential Training Professionals.” Ms. Richardson is credited with the movement to Consultative Selling and is the author of ten books on selling and sales management, including Sales Coaching — Making the Great Leap from Sales Manager to Sales Coach, and Stop Telling, Start Selling. She teaches sales and management at the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton Executive Development Center. Linda is a frequent speaker at industry and client conferences, has been published extensively in industry and training journals, and has been featured in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Nation’s Business, Selling Power, Success, and The Conference Board Magazine. Learn more about Richardson's sales training and performance improvement solutions at http://www.richardson.com web - Visit Linda Richardson's Website |
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Jay Kubassek(Jay's Full Bio: EvanCarmichael.com/jaykubassek) In five years, Canadian-born entrepreneur Jay Kubassek went from selling mufflers at a Midas franchise to revolutionizing Internet marketing with the 2004 launch of CarbonCopyPRO, a online marketing education company, now worth over $20 million with customers in over 160 countries.
As an independent film producer, his upstart film fund Aliquot Films is currently producing a films with Spike Lee and Abel Fererra (starring Ethan Hawke and Dennis Hopper.)
Jay's entrepreneurial spirit is irrepressible. He’s the owner of five companies, a professional speaker and trainer, international real estate developer/investor, extreme sport enthusiast and emerging philanthropist. Jay resides in NYC with his wife Jamie, son Milo and dog Cooper. Visit Jay's official website: www.JayKubassek.com - Visit Jay Kubassek's Website |
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