It’s a Millennial World but Everyone Else Lives Here Too
Born in the late 1970’s and straddling the line between Gen X and Gen Y, I’m often reminded of my place within the workplace generational spectrum. There are times when this is a blessing as I am able to cherry pick the favorable attributes from each respective generation and discard those that I find disagreeable. I see myself as hopeful and looking for meaningful work, two traits often ascribed to Millennials. But I know in my Gen X heart that I have a skeptical nature and thrive on self-reliance to complete much of daily tasks. When I struggle to keep pace with the dynamic changes in the world of work, I take solace in the lessons of the past. Perhaps this is because my Baby Boomer parents instilled a lot of their values in me as I was growing up and as a result I treasure the moments I’ve been able to learn at the knees of their ancestors, my grandparents and great-grandmother.
When I first read articles about how we’re all living in a Millennial world, I was reminded how this same conversation gets repeated every time the societal demographics reach a tipping point in the balance and transfer of power within the workplace. Surely during the late 1960’s and early 70’s the Greatest Generation felt pressure to prepare for a similarly perceived quandary when the Boomers started earning salaries. So I didn’t lend much credence to the "Attack of the Millennials!" in the workplace hype; perhaps becasue I was too immersed in it. Truthfully I thought I was pretty hip for not totally buying in.
Reality comes crashing home, as so often happens, each time I communicate with my girlfriend’s fifteen year old son. He’s constantly reminding me of how tragically un-cool I’ve become. So thanks to the resident representative from the cultural connoisseurs of cool; something I always feared has now been officially confirmed. Through my interactions with him I realized how crucial the efficiency of cross-generational communication can be at our workplaces and in our lives.
It’s easy to point out the differences in generational communication today, in fact it’s important to understand and recognize the potential breakdowns that occur within multigenerational business units. But cross-generational communication on an individual level is key to self awareness, self development and in establishing a blueprint for sustained success.
Showing deference to elders and empathy to younger employees, whether it’s in a tactical business context or a more informal and personal setting, is important to gain an understanding of the person independently and without regard to the stereotypical attributes of their peer group. You can learn a lot from people regardless of their age or proximity to your own. And these lessons should be shared and related to others when warranted. Cross-generational communication provides an opportunity for individuals to assess the values and traits of different generations that impact their lives. To borrow from an earlier blog from frequent HCI contributor, Bill Treasurer, these traits are inherited and only when we cherry pick the best and throw out the bad apples are we able to maximize our own potential and bring out the best in others.
To learn more about cross-generational communication - attend the HCI webcast Communicating Across Generations: What’s Different (and the Same)