How can I use this in my job?
Generational differences are increasingly evident daily across numerous businesses in America and worldwide. Rather than falling for the traps or stereotypes commonly displayed in media and today’s world view, there can actually be benefits to having such generational differences in your work life. By comprehending and acknowledging these differences first, we can begin to accept and work with them in our professional lives. With stereotypes portrayed today, there can be a challenge in finding a suitable solution that makes everyone feel inclusive in the workplace. Instead of solely focusing on the negatives of these stereotypes, we have the potential to use them to foster a better dynamic within the workplace.
Creating an environment that feels safe and accessible to grow and learn becomes even more important when dealing with generational differences. Strategically planning communication and development training in the workplace can help displace some of these negative ideas. These exercises not only help employees get along better with their co-workers but also impact the overall well-being of the business. This impact is not limited to employees on lower levels; it is extremely important in the aging senior management inside businesses. This can help managers and leaders of a business better connect with their newer generations and hires.
We have long seen the impacts of generational differences inside the workplace. However, only recently have we really looked into the impact of what these differences pose to the business as a whole. By acknowledging that not all workers are the same, just like how not all generations are the same, we can begin to alleviate some of this tension. In the past, a generation like baby boomers may have really enjoyed the commitment of coming into the office Monday through Friday for their job. The newer generations, like millennials and Gen Z, may prefer the work-from-home option. By accepting and acknowledging these differences and creating training and development practices based on them, a business will be able to successfully turn what was once posed as a risk into a benefit for the workplace.
