March 2009

What’s All the Buzz About the Generations?

By Nikki Schmidt

Perhaps your workplace reflects what is becoming a common meeting-table-mosaic of employees represented from each of the generations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conflict arises when employees and employers neglect to see how generational differences affect communication styles, group dynamics, and even more importantly, whether or not an employee will choose to stay with your organization. In these tough economic times, retaining employees, especially our top talent, is of utmost importance.

 

Each of the generations and their values, goals, and interpretations of fun, balance, and reward must start getting employers to think about the best way to manage, retain, and reward them. What are Baby Boomers wanting more than ever at this point in their lives--more so than money? Why do only 14 % of managers choose Generation X as their preferred generation to manage? What does “mining silver” mean and why should every organization be doing it? What are the emerging events and people who are shaping the newest generation on the block--the Millennials

and how are schools and organizations going to cope with this generation’s massive numbers and expectations? These are just some of the questions we’ve been looking into here at The Conflict Center.

 

If you’re having intergenerational conflict or employee retention issues--give us a call so we can deliver a training to your organization to educate your employees about some of the generational clashpoints to be aware of. Until then, join us for our upcoming speaker’s series on March 19th, where Nora Burns, intergenerational communication expert and owner of Insightful Endeavors will guide us in thinking about the differences between the generations that makes each one special as well as the similarities that create a unifying fabric amongst workers and families.

· Traditionalists (born up until 1945)

· Baby Boomers (1946-1964)

· Generations X’ers (1965-1980)

· Millennials (1981-1999)