Managing Different Generations in the Workplace

Introduction

The degree of change that the world has experienced over the past 50 years is a staggeringly high amount, and the pace at which a lot of these changes have come about is no less striking. These shifts have affected nearly every aspect of our existence beyond our fundamental physical needs and have had a profound effect on how we live our everyday lives.

One area of life which has not escaped these broad changes is the business world. Modern companies may operate within the same fundamental principles of profitability that have governed commerce since it started, but many of the characteristics of a successful organisation trading in the modern arena would seem foreign to businesses of the past.

An interesting issue that modern businesses face is how to handle the different generations of people who make up their workforce.

This is partially due to the ever increasing life expectancy of people, particularly in first world nations, which in turn prompts an ever increasing retirement age. As people work to a later point in their lives, they may remain with the same company into their late 60’s or early 70’s, and often as hands- on workers rather than simply sitting at the board.

There is also a need for a more diverse set of skills in the progressive business surroundings, triggered largely due to the swift development and extensive reach of computer technology. Corporate processes, both internal and external, have been subject to significant changes which require a fresh way of thinking. These modern ways of thinking are most commonly found within the younger working age group.

Problems

One of the most typical challenges that face a modern enterprise that is working with a number of distinct generations in its workforce is related to technology. Computer systems are commonplace in our lives nowadays and they form a vital piece of the corporate puzzle.

There are also generational issues when it comes to outward business factors such as the law. New laws and business best practices are being created all of the time and key business decision makers must be aware of any that apply to their business. This can be said of sales and promotional options that have emerged with the rise of the Internet.

Beyond this, there can be communication problems between different generations of worker, psychological limitations of the older personnel in an organisation and the need to satisfy a range of diverse needs and aspirations to keep an entire workforce content.

Whilst an office workspace should be smart they can also house industrial shelving within particular conditions in office storage needs.

The Generations

The requirement to manage generations in the workplace may seem like an unnecessary task, but the differences between the generations of worker that are often found in business are worth taking note of.

Traditionals

Mature, or “traditional”, workers are the oldest that would be found in a modern business environment. They’re the people who were born before the Second World War, and will be in their late 60’s or early 70’s.

Their approach to business and life in general is one of organisation and obedience. They were expected to make individual sacrifices for the greater good, and whilst this belief was nurtured beneath the shadow of a global conflict, many of the older generation still harbour this opinion in modern times.

Since many of the senior generation will hold senior ranks within a company their views and opinions will generally carry greater weight than those of younger generations. Their judgements will often be fundamental to the business and sculpt the future success or failure of the business.

Baby Boomers

The Baby Boomer generation includes those born between the end of the war and the mid- 60’s, while there was a general decline in the birth rate around the world. Baby Boomers will be aged between 45 and 65 approximately and are likely to form the vast majority of management jobs within a contemporary company.

This generation grew up without a lot of the oppression and discipline that was commonplace amongst previous generations. They are an aspirational collection of people that are very family- oriented.

When it comes to the work environment, this group of workers will often be able to grasp the bigger picture while still maintaining a grasp on modern developments in terms of technologies and business processes. Their family- oriented character tends to see them working effectively in teams, although it is often noted that they are not at ease when taking criticism(no matter how helpful) , and they are not good at giving feedback to other employees. These communication problems can become very disruptive in a business setting.

Generation X

Members of Generation X were born between the mid- 60’s and the late- 70’s. They will be currently aged between 30 and 45 and will be distributed amongst the various levels of management within a contemporary company.

Socially they grew up in very demanding times. Careers were an ever more important and defining part of people’s lives and this was made clear to Generation X from a very young age. Many will have worked up through lower and higher education prior to working their way up within one or perhaps two companies.

Therefore, they are often very good at problem solving and meeting short- term objectives but can struggle to grasp how their contribution influences the big picture. They will be motivated by monetary benefits rather than a sense of duty since they feel they have paid their dues through a life of learning and work. Generation X need close supervision to ensure their effective contribution to the organisation.

Generation NeXt

This generation were born after 1980 and are the youngest group of people currently at work. They have borne witness to a changing social environment where being an extravert is rarely frowned upon. They are most open to radical ideas and procedures and find hyper- consumerism and aggressive marketing to be second nature.

The smooth day to day running of a company can often rely on uninteresting factors such as storage bins that are ignored way too often because they are mundane.

The Working Environment

Technology

We are all familiar with the gap between the older generations and contemporary technical equipment. Whether it is a parent struggling to operate a new mobile phone, or a grandparent being genuinely confused about what the Internet is, the void between the old and the new becomes very apparent when it comes to technology.

In regards to the modern business, issues involving technology might have very far reaching consequences. Computers are vital to many aspects of business, from controlling payroll, to perform core tasks and even providing a route for promotion. As such, an employee who is not familiar with the systems being used by a company is likely to find problems in many areas of the corporation.

The same principle can also be applied in the opposite direction. The younger generations might be very comfortable with emerging technologies and practices, but may lack knowledge of the older systems that still carry out many of the critical functions of the business. Internal business procedures are rarely black and white so workers ideally need a range of technological abilities and knowledge.

Physical limitations

There are clear physical aspects that may influence how a successful company manages its workforce in regard to age. Elderly generations will by and large by physically inferior to their younger counterparts, and consequently they will be less suited to roles that involve physical exertions. There will be exceptions to this in lots of companies, however as a generalisation it is correct.

Fortunately, most of the older generations of employee will have advanced to senior levels of management within the business they work for, and these jobs reward based upon knowledge and experience rather than physical ability.

Modern ailments

Modern businesses are faced with physical conditions that businesses of the past would not have had to confront. Complaints such as RSI, or repetitive strain injury, have become more common since the widespread introduction and use of personal computer keyboards.

The desk environment itself may create a number of problems if the ergonomics of any particular workstation are not great. Back problems and joint problems can develop after long periods of sitting incorrectly, and long periods of exposure to computer monitors can contribute to long- term eye damage. Studies are on- going to look into the full scale of the impact of the modern place of work on the human body.

Fashion and business rarely combine though office furniture frequently generates casual fights between businesses to determine who is most fashionable.

Solutions

The control of generations in the workplace has obtained more exposure over recent years and many additional businesses have been made aware of the benefit of effective generational management. This has spawned many new ideas and practices that are in one way or another aimed at developing the working rapport between the business and its workers, no matter how old they may be.

If there are particular jobs within your business that are most appropriate for a particular generation then it is often beneficial to only use members of that generation to carry out the job. This kind of specialisation demands good organisational control. It will also be necessary to pass the knowledge on from generation to generation as your workforce ages.

There are a number of ways in which your business can learn about managing several generations of employee. Seminars dedicated to the topic have become a more common event in recent times, and the amount of practical advice that can be obtained from these occasions can be of special benefit to your organisation.

There are also many resources available on the Internet that discuss the problem in greater detail, and draw together a range of different ideas for tackling various situations. Every company has individual needs and a unique workforce so it may take time before you find the correct management method for your organisation.

If setting your own managers the job of learning about generations within the office does not seem suitable there are many business consultants that now incorporate the idea of generational management into their practice.

Conclusion

Different generations of employee can find it difficult to work collectively. They have grown up in distinct times and learnt about a world that has been continually changing. There are not simply concerns when it comes to the terminology used for communication, but issues of manners as well as etiquette.

Each generation is also stimulated by different things, and have come from different social upbringings. It will rarely be the case that one solution can be used across numerous generations but it is also crucial that you make sure that your company does not micro- manage the different age groups working for it. The business must do what is optimum for its own success.

Contemporary organisations have a varied range of skills requirements and these requirements simply cannot be satisfied by just one of the generations discussed in this article. As is so often the case, the path to success depends upon finding a balance between the generations- employing the strengths, mitigating the weaknesses and encouraging accordingly – through informed and empathetic direction.

Filed Under: Planet Mushroom Contributors