Squinting into the Future… TOGETHER

October 29, 2021 by Sallie Lee

In researching 5Gen for clients and for ourselves at Continuum, I’m happy to see that recommendations for easing potential cross-generational tensions are things that we can easily do in almost any workplace:

• don’t dwell on differences; emphasize commonalities

• build collaborative relationships

• create opportunities for cross-generational mentoring

We do well to beware of stereotyping one another. We all just want to create good lives and contribute, even though that may look different to each of us. What’s important to all is receiving equitable pay, opportunity, and recognition, which shouldn’t be hard for companies to pull off, no matter an employee’s age.

A helpful set of 2021 resources from Biz Library on 5Gen is worth saving: The One Value that Unites Generational Differences in the Workplace. Author Caroline Miller shared the results of some research she pulled together:

Would it surprise you to know that each generation’s top values are more alike than they are different? When you look deeper than preferences in communication and adeptness with technology, it’s clear that there are stronger commonalities than there are differences.
The problem is that we’ve not done a good job revealing these commonalities because we often can’t seem to get past the surface tension. Therefore, stereotypes and negative attitudes run rampant, rather than understanding and collaborating across generations.

Caroline Miller, Author

We have more in common than we think. And so much to gain. That being said, two of Continuum’s (millennial) consultants, Morgan White and Micah have just this month finished their Master of Science degrees in Organizational Development at American University. We salute them and appreciate the fresh ideas they continually contribute. Lucky us!