Managing Multigenerations at Work, at Home and all Points in Between

Never before has the world experienced such a diverse and vastly different workforce. Department managers are struggling with how to keep “peace in the family.” Companies are scrambling to find ways to find and retain employees.

The movie, In Good Company, brings this dilemma to the forefront better than I ever could. Dennis Quaid is the 50-something manager of a sales department. His company is sold. Tofer Grace comes into the company as Dennis’ 20-something new boss. To make matters worse, Grace starts dating Quaid’s college-age daughter. Talk about a reality check!

How are we going to manage our business when our employees range from 21 to 71 and fight like siblings? That 50 years encompass four very different and distinct ways of thinking. In my new book, Every Generation Needs a New Revolution, I write about how to understand the generational differences that divide us. The Matures were brought up on “duty first” – work for the same company for 30 years and retire with a pension and a gold watch. The Boomers came along and followed in their fathers’ footsteps, but made some changes along the way. The job was #1, and they believed that they had to be seen working to make it to the top. Sixty-hour work weeks became normal. Then the Xers entered the picture. Pension plans gave way to 401(k)s and longevity with a company was not the way to get ahead. The company showed no loyalty to them; why should they be loyal to the company? Now we have Generation Y, who have been coddled, protected, reassured, and supported to the point of distraction. They are in need of constant attention, affirmation, and reinforcement.

What can a company do? The Boomers are being asked to mentor the youngsters, but they are feeling the pinch. Train my replacement? Help that ‘kid’ get ahead? I had to learn the hard way, had to scratch my way to where I am and now I’m being asked to hand it all over on a silver platter – no way! The kids see the older workers as being pathetically out of touch with today’s technology. They wonder why their tattoos and purple hair are any worse than the tie-dyed shirts, granny glasses and love beads of 40 years ago.

This challenge is not limited to the workplace, but in all of our daily interactions with people of different ages. I believe there are three important elements that must be understood if we are to overcome all those things that currently divide us. Those three elements are: 1) understanding, 2) acceptance, and 3) forgiveness. Each of these elements will take time to learn and comprehend, but I believe the end result will be well worth the effort made. Until we understand and accept those around us for who and what they are, and then forgive them for whatever it is that we don’t like about them, there can be no harmony. Can we accept the concept of no black and white; no right or wrong, only gray area? If so, we can then live in a world where everyone’s opinion is valued but not given or taken as gospel. If we can, I believe a lot of the discord in today’s society will cease.

Is this going to be an easy task? Absolutely not! It is a long and challenging road ahead of us. Getting everyone on board immediately, or even eventually, will be the challenge of this century. But we homo sapiens have managed to triumph over most every obstacle put before us – up to this point. If we really try – if the desire is within us – this too can be conquered.

Linda Thompson is founder and President of Life Path Solutions. She is the author of Planning for Tomorrow, Your Passport to a Confident Future, a common sense approach to life planning; and A Caregiver’s Journey, You Are Not Alone, a survival guide for working caregivers. Linda’s latest book, Every Generation Needs a New Revolution, will be released April 1, 2008. Linda can be contacted through her web site at www.LifePathSolutions.biz or 480-899-8647.