Generations at work managing the clash of boomers, Gen Xers, and Gen Yers in the workplace, second edition

This all-new edition of the seminal book on navigating the multigenerational workplace takes a fresh look at a growing challenge, now exacerbated by the youngest employees. With their micromanaged childhoods and tech addictions, Gen Yers require constant feedback-frustrating for the Me Generation that can't let go of the spotlight, and annoying for Gen Xers, sandwiched between the two. So how can you lead this motley group with their often incompatible work ethics, values, and styles? "Generations at Work" lays bare the causes of conflict, and offers practical guidelines for managing the differences, including: in-depth interviews with members of each generation; best practices from companies bridging the generation gap; specific tips for each generation on how to handle the others; and, a field guide for mentoring GenerationY. For anyone struggling to manage a workforce with different ways of working, communicating, and thinking, "Generations at Work" is the answer. This early pioneering study of generational diversity (first published fifteen years ago) is still fresh and relevant. The key issues of generation difference in the workplace is now considered to be one of the top leadership challenges of this decade and is widely reported in the global national press as the babyboomers (reluctantly) retire, x generation are taking on more leadership responsibility and the Millennials (or ‘Nexters’ as Zemike, Raines and Filipczak refer to them) are now a firm and dominant group in the workplace. This is a detailed, well researched book that sets out each of the four main generational groups’ profiles, perceptions, defining moments, shared values and work ethics and carefully illustrates that a lot of the conflicts that you find in organisations are generational. The book’s principle idea is that as leaders, through understanding generational issues and motivations, we can limit the amount of tension and conflict caused by generational issues. As well as fascinating insights into how each generation has been shaped, the book offers some highly practical ways (through personal stories/insights, organisational case-studies, expert panellists and Q&A) on how to effectively contain and manage the inevitable generational clash. Unlike the generations that this book writes about, the research and analysis in this book has not aged and it is extremely important and relevant reading for any modern leader leading a complex cross-generational enterprise. Annoyed with your workmates and flustered with your staff? Don't understand how they think, act, and communicate-especially the twentysomethings who ask questions all the time and want confirmation that they're doing great? All these difficult people may be nothing more than diverse demographics. Friction among Traditionalists, Boomers, Xers, and Millennials has spiked, as four distinct generations are tossed side by side, cubicle by cubicle-and nobody speaks the same language. Generations at Work offers a refreshing way to root out the causes of workplace clashes and bridge the generational gaps. Now updated to include the Millennial newcomers to the workplace, the book serves as both a sweeping overview of generational differences and a solutions-based managerial guide to molding each group into loyal employees who work effectively with everyone, from tech-savvy, high-needs young people to conformist, hardworking seniors. Packed with original research and eye-opening insights, you'll find explanations of what makes each generation tick, key phrases and tactics for motivating each, best practices from companies with generations-friendly cultures, in-depth interviews highlighting problems and solutions, a field guide for mentoring Millennials-and many more valuable tools for turning today's multigenerational workforce into an organizational asset. Written for those struggling to manage a workforce with incompatible ethics, values, and working styles, this book looks at the root causes of professional conflict and offers practical guidelines for navigating multigenerational differences. By exploring the most common causes of conflict—including the Me Generation's frustration with Gen Yers' constant desire for feedback and the challenges facing Gen Xers sandwiched between these polarities—Generations at Work offers practical, spot-on guidance for managing the differences with consideration to each generation's unique needs. Along with the authors' insights for managing a workforce with different ways of working, communicating, and thinking, this invaluable resources offers: in-depth interviews with members of each generation, tips on best practices from companies successfully bridging the generation gap, and a mentorship field guide to help you support the youngest members of your team. Generations at Work has the tools that are key to helping your workforce interact more positively with one another and thrive in today's wildly divergent workplace culture. Written for all who are struggling to manage a workforce with often incompatible ethics, values, and working styles, Generations at Work looks afresh at the root causes of professional conflict and offers practical guidelines for navigating multigenerational differences. By laying bare the most common causes of conflict--including the Me Generation’s frustration with Gen Yers’ constant desire for feedback and the challenges facing Gen Xers sandwiched between these polarities--the book offers practical, spot-on guidance for managing the differences with consideration to each generation’s unique needs.Along with the authors’ insights for managing a workforce with different ways of working, communicating, and thinking, the book offers in-depth interviews with members of each generation, tips on best practices from companies successfully bridging the generation gap, and a mentorship field guide to help you support the youngest members of your team--tools, which are the key to helping your workforce interact more positively with one another and thrive in today’s wildly divergent workplace culture. If you're a manager navigating the multigenerational workplace, you know it is a growing challenge. With their micromanaged childhoods and tech addictions, Gen Yers require constant feedback. This frustrates the Me Generation that can't let go of the spotlight, and annoys Gen Xers, sandwiched between the two. The authors lay bare the causes of conflict, and offers practical guidelines for managing the differences The newest edition of this seminal book on navigating the multigenerational workplace offers practical tips to help any leader bridge the generational gap--and create a healthy culture.