Traditionalist
Computers didn’t exist, written or face-to-face was how information spread
What is the different between generational preferences and differences?
Is there really a difference? What kind of question is that, of course they are different because every time I interact with Millennials they are always on their phone, or when I try and talk to a Baby Boomer they don’t understand and they are so quick to delegate task instead of explaining the why. Let’s not talk about the Traditionalist that I won’t even approach with a questions because they move so slow and don’t understand technology. Do any of these sound familiar to you? We could go on and on when it comes to stereotyping each generation, but what really is the difference?
When we look at each of the generations and get an understanding as to how they make the decisions they make and interact and engage the way they do in the workplace and how it affects the flow of the work culture we have to step back and ask the million dollar question WHY? The answer is quite simple.
Source: Progressive AE
Each generation can be defined as a period of about 20yrs and there are currently 5 generations working amongst each other in various work cultures, which means you, have about 70 years of difference between workers. So think about how life was 70 years ago? For some they lived it and for others they read about it in school and for some they cannot even imagine; even with all the technology advances. So what does that mean? It means that each generation is culturally different because of the events, resources, and obligations they were obligated to within their first 20-30 years of life, however each generation is striving for the same thing: a workplace of culture of respect. So where do the preferences come in? Each generation defines respect differently based on their professional biases because within their generation this is what you do or did in order to be successful.
Let’s look at a computer as an example:
Millenials
Started using computers, launch of the internet, and email and the introduction of cellphones
Boomers
Telephones and typewriters revolutionized communication
Gen Z
Computers and cellphones are the main everyday devices of communication
Gen X
The first generation with expanding access to computers
The Next Gen
Who knows what communication devices will be available!
So as you can see each generation has a need to communicate, but because of the type of communication devices, they had access too, that determines their preference on how they choose to communicate within the workplace. When you take a Traditionalist that has communicated most of their lives without a cellphone and been very successful working with a person from Generation Z that has always relied on a cellphone to communicate you, create a difference with a preference in the workplace. So are there differences because of the tools used and there are preferences based on the confidence of the tools accessible. Remember we all can learn from each other’s experiences and knowledge because we all value what we bring to the workplace.
