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A Positive Look at the Multi-generational Workforce

Happy New Year 2013 from the APLS staff! We survived 2012, affectionately called in some

circles “the year of the roller coaster” and we have happily embraced 2013. The politicians

tried to dampen our spirits by dragging out the “falling off the fiscal cliff” situation to a dire

pre-coronary stage before signing on the dotted line. The business community never lost its

composure through the political posturing and remained determined to make 2013 the year

we come back bigger and stronger than ever. If I was an oracle I would predict that we are in

for a stimulating business cycle.

When you look around at the employees in your company what do you see? Whether you

are a manager or a non-management employee what is your assessment of the workers

around you? Are the employees homogeneous or multi-generation? How do they work

together? Are there a lot of attitudes that are counterproductive to high performing work

teams? Is there a paternal – child relationship in your office or maybe a flippant recent

college grad who calls the shots for a multiage work group? The start of a new year is a good

time to take a critical overview of your immediate work area and set a goal to do your best to

connect with others to be more productive. Do an inventory of your skill sets and

comparative lists of your co-workers skill sets. Where do you complement one another? Are

you using your diversity to work smarter and produce more or are you constantly whining

about a co-worker from another generation?

It is old news that we currently have four generations in the workforce. Our ultimate

challenge is to take the best attributes of each generation to collaboratively create a mega

surge in American productivity. On the surface the differences between the generations

seems like running a race without a qualifying heat. There is a finish line but the diversity in

skill level (including tech skills), motivation and style make it a crap shoot as to who will win

in the end. No company wants a workforce that cannot come together to be both innovative

and productive.

If we take a minute to look at a few characteristics of each generation in the current

workforce the human factor and shared common experience often outweigh the

stereotypical differences. Increased productivity can emerge from understanding the other

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person’s perspective.

Competitive: We are all competitive at some level. The reasons vary but competition reigns.

Boomers (individual) Gen X (if they understand purpose) Gen Y (instant win) Mature (greater

good)

Diversity: The US is a multicultural, multi- generational population. Levels of acceptance are

reflected by each group in their own way.

Boomers (peace & love past) Gen X (want to improve) Gen Y (non-issue) Mature (politically

correct)

Tech Savvy: Technology has impacted virtually every aspect of our lives in the last 25 years.

Adapting is necessary for survival in the workplace.

Boomers (Facebook/never grow old) Gen X & Gen Y (entire life exposure) Mature (Email,

grandchildren)

Work ethic and compensation are two areas the generations differ in their outlook but even

in those areas each generation has teachable moments to bring to the work table. Gen X and

Gen Y value life for living not working. According to their philosophy you (the person) and

your work are two separate entities. In contrast, all aspects of time and commitment to the

company are values for the Mature and Boomer workers. The cross training occurs when

Mature and Boomer workers can help Gen X and Gen Y employees concentrate efforts on

being more consistent with time and title issues in the workplace. Loyalty and commitment

matter for the greater good and contribute to personal satisfaction beyond the monetary.

Gen X and Gen Y can help Mature and Boomers learn to value their contributions to the

company and seek appropriate perks and compensation for their efforts. The day of the gold

watch is dead.

Multi-generational collaboration is a positive, workable, business concept. A diversity of

ideas, a common goal and different ways to achieve that goal net a return to American

ingenuity and mass productivity.

If you enjoy reading about strengthening productivity in the workplace check out the APLS

Online Store.

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