Are you a gladiator or a mediator?
If you’ve read anything on the topic of generations in the workplace you may have noticed authors who use constant references to “generation gaps” and “conflict management strategies”. This is what I refer to as the “generational gladiator” attitude, someone who thinks that the workplace is a battle ground and is determined their generation will win the war!
Whilst each generation has its own unique ideas on how work should be which can create issues, I believe the adversarial approach is all wrong. Instead of focusing on the downside I believe we need to start focusing on how we can harness the power of our differences to create more successful organisations. I prefer to take the “generational mediator” approach, which aims to bridge the gap between the generations and find ways to bring them together.
Gladiator |
Mediator |
There is a right way to do things |
There are many ways to achieve an outcome |
People need to fit in to the environment we have created |
We need to learn to fit the environment to people’s needs |
All the old ways need to go to make room for the new |
Let’s take the best of the old and combine it with the best of the new |
I believe that the result of this change of attitude will be a new formula for success in business:
Builders +
Baby Boomers +
Generation X +
Gen Y
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Success
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Each generation brings with it a range of strengths that, if we can harness them, can create a highly engaged workforce that is able to respond to customer demands.
- With Builders you get people that are hard working, reliable and loyal
- Baby Boomers bring their optimism, drive and team player attitude
- Generation X are flexible, practical and solutions focused
- Gen Y add innovation, confidence and enthusiasm to the mix
If you’ve studied personality styles you will know that all the models encourage organisations to have people with a range of styles rather than clones of each other because of the different points of view they can bring. The same is true with the generations.
Mature workers bring with them years of experience that can be invaluable. Younger workers bring with them new ways of thinking. These are both qualities that all organisations can benefit from. If you talk to your staff you’ll find that many of them, young and older, get a lot out of working with people from another generation.
Remember, the generational issue is not just a fad that is going to fade away in the near future. This issue is here to stay. By the time the last of the Builders are completely gone from the workplace, we will be seeing the emergence of Gen Z and then the Alpha Generation, so the basic skills of managing a multi-generational workforce will be required for some time into the future.
Karen Schmidt from Let’s Grow! is an award winning speaker, workshop leader and facilitator who is on a mission to grow managers into engaging leaders. Contact her on 0411 745 430 or visit www.letsgrow.com.au