The conventional wisdom is that the different generations in our workplace clash because they each want different things. But Jennifer Deal, a research assistant with the Center for Creative Leadership, says studies show we all want the same basic things at any age. "Conflict has less to do with age or generational differences than it does with clout - who has it and who wants it," she writes in Executive Excellence. Leaders therefore need to take advantage of the common ground between the generations:
All generations have similar values
Family is the value cited most frequently by all generations. Other common values include integrity, achievement, love, competence, happiness, self-respect, wisdom, balance, and responsibility.
Everyone wants respect
Older people talk about respect in terms of "give my opinions the weight I believe they deserve" and "do what I tell you to do," while younger respondents characterize respect more as "listen to me" and "pay attention to what I say."
Leaders must be trustworthy
Individuals of all generations trust the people they work with directly more than they trust their organization (and their organization more than they trust upper management). All generations expect their leaders to be worthy of trust.
People want leaders who are credible and trustworthy. They want managers to listen, and to be farsighted and encouraging.
Internal politics is a problem at any age
Individuals of all generations are concerned about organizational politics, being recognized for the work they do, and getting the resources they need to do their job. At the same time, they recognize political skills are needed to move up.
No one really likes change
The stereotype is that older workers dislike anything about their workplace being changed while younger people relish change. But few people say they actually like change. "Resistance to change has nothing to do with age; it is all about how much you have to gain or lose as a result of the change," she stresses.
Loyalty depends on the context
People of all generations don't think that being loyal in the old sense is good for their careers. However, people closer to retirement are more likely to want to stay with the same organization. The time a worker puts in each day has more to do with position than age.
Everyone wants to learn
People are interested in gaining the skills to move to the next level. They want development in leadership, skills training in their field of expertise, problem-solving and decision-making, team building, and communication skills.
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