Judy Preszcator – As a leader or business owner, you have many strategic goals to consider for the health of the organization. So, one of your strategies may be to leverage different generations to ensure you recognize the differences that people of different ages need.
There are many factors to consider with the individual you are coaching. For example, how do they:
- Contribute to your organization’s mission and vision.
- Demonstrate respect toward others.
- Ensure they keep their word.
- Possess a coaching for success mentality versus policing for failure attitude.
The Current Reality
Today, there can be up to five generations in one workplace:
- Traditionalists
- Baby Boomers
- Generation X
- Millennials
- Generation Z
Each generation has its differences. Certainly, we’re seeing less Traditionalists today but some are still actively working! We regularly hear stories about owners still active in their business although many of them are in their 80’s. Baby Boomers, those born between 1946-1964 have influenced trends and dominated the workplace for at least five decades, but now have declined to around 12% of the workforce.
Gen X workers value more flexibility than their predecessors. Unlike Baby Boomers, Gen X employees have been more comfortable leaving their jobs because they are more adaptable and independent.
Millennials (1980-1994) currently represent around 34% of the workforce. So, many of them are in leadership positions. They’ve had positive impacts on leadership and team building. Most Millennials aspire to have a sense of belonging and think beyond just profit.
Of course, Gen Z employees are getting a lot of attention these days because they are becoming an increasingly large proportion of businesses. Gen Z’s value their personal connection at work. They value achieving security through training and tend to be more conscious of the importance of mental health. Currently, Gen Z’s represent about the same percentage of employees as Gen X (27%) and are expected to be the largest contingent in the next few years.
Leverage Different Generations
Leadership is changing quickly, as older generations retire from the workplace. If there are multiple generations in your workplace, it can pose both opportunities and challenges. The good news is there can be benefits if everyone is prepared to see things from a different perspective.
Ensure that your business has strategies that capitalize on the benefits that diverse demographics bring to your organization. Our Milestones strategy program can help guide you through the process.