WHO HAS NOT heard the refrain 'back in my day' or 'when I was your age' from a parent or grandparent commenting on the way things change?
In the workplace, though, employees from different generations must decide how to get along with minimum disagreement or dissent. This is easier said than done. A group of individuals with differing backgrounds, outlooks and agendas is likely to work at cross purposes, which might force the organisation to go off course.
Today, many companies employ staff whose ages range from late teens to early seventies. In effect, they span five generations. Much has been said about the issues and attitudes that separate older and younger employees, but it turns out these views are often based on assumptions.
A new study delves into similarities and differences in areas related to leadership to give us a better understanding of the challenges of working across generations.
The Emerging Leaders Research Survey was conducted by the Centre for Creative Leadership, a non-profit educational institution based in the United States. The organisation aims to advance the understanding, practice and development of leadership capabilities.
Research scientist Jennifer Deal conducted the study and the initial findings were based on data collected over an 18-month period ending December 2002. More than 3,400 respondents provided information. Most participants, 57 per cent of whom were female, were born in the United States and were residents of the country.