Some people dwell on the differences among the generations in the workplace and see them as obstacles to productivity and serenity. Others ignore the differences or deny that they are real, saying that we all are individuals who can’t be categorized. The observed truth lies somewhere in between.
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We do need to regard each person as an individual, avoid stereotyping and remember that not all behavior is derived from generational factors. Having said that, there are observable patterns that a large percentage of people (in the U.S. and to a lesser but growing extent in other parts of the world) exhibit that are related to formative influences while they were growing up.
Being aware of these generational patterns and attitudes is valuable when designing strategies and interacting as team members, mentors, mentees, coaches and supervisors. We need to take a cross-generational approach — a multigenerational one that proves we have the flexibility to shift as warranted to new perspectives and strategies.