Professionalism

Interactions & Interconnections

June 18, 2008

 

I spend a tremendous amount of time working with the four generations found in today’s workplaces.  It’s been my experience that each generation observes the other with a mixture of amazement and amusement.  It turns out that looking at each other is about all the generations do together.
 
A recent survey conducted by Randstad USA, an Atlanta-based employment services company, indicates that the four generations rarely interact with each other, and they often do not recognize each other’s skills.  Randstad spokesperson Eric Buntin suggests that employers who help close the knowledge gap by creating ways for each generation to recognize the strengths of others could benefit hugely.
 
And never doubt it, the potential benefits are great.  Today’s T-Ball Generation shares a comfort level with technology that previous generations can only imagine.  To the extent Baby Boomer bosses and members of the T-Ball Generation truly roll up their sleeves and work together, organizations will become more productive.  They will combine years of knowledge with speed, creating an insurmountable force. 
 

It’s time for the generations to connect, and I mean really connect.  Baby Boomer bosses must stop assuming that when they have delegated tasks to a junior member they have “connected’ with that employee.  And members of the T-Ball Generation should stop rolling their eyes when they see a senior member of the organization struggle with some high tech tool.  The workplace will benefit when all generations get engaged and learn about each others’ expectations about work, hopes, and dreams.


 




 



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