Why Do We Have Inaccurate Beliefs About Age? How Do Inaccurate Beliefs About Age Affect Our Workplaces? What Should Managers Do? If there are not real and consistent differences between people of different age groups, but these stereotyping and meta-stereotyping processes end up creating artificial generational divides, what is a manager supposed to do? Research suggests that workplaces are brimming with age-related stereotypes and meta-stereotypes, and that these beliefs are not always accurate or aligned. “Generation Y does not live up to the majority of the stereotypes put upon them; in reality, they want many of the same things in the workplace that other generations want. They are very eager to learn and develop in their careers. Flexibility and development are key components of the Generation Y-friendly work environment. Understanding the similarities and differences between the generations is an important first step to becoming an employer of choice.” - McLean & Company “Despite different experiences, Millennials are driven by the same motivations as other generations.“ - McLean & Company Advice & Critical Insight from McLean & Company : 1️⃣Managers today frequently complain about the challenges of managing Millennials, yet rigorous empirical studies show that Millennials differ little from previous generations of the same age. 2️⃣The differences that do exist create opportunities for HR to enhance their performance. 3️⃣Millennials are driven by the same factors as previous generations. Leverage these similarities to develop an engagement plan which will motivate a multi-generational workforce, including the Millennial segment. Impact and Result 4️⃣Using an Employee Engagement Framework, organizations can improve Millennial engagement at both job and organizational levels. 5️⃣Millennials had a different upbringing than the Baby Boomers and Generation X; however, much of what they demand in the workplace will engage the entire workforce, not just their demographic. 6️⃣Improving Millennial engagement will result in an increase in the attraction and retention of high-performing Millennial employees. ***links to additional resources in the comments below Acknowledgment: source article “Generational Differences at Work Are Small. Thinking They’re Big Affects Our Behavior” by Eden King, Lisa Finkelstein, Courtney Thomas, and Abby Corrington. And research from McLean & Company infographic source: Antonio Grasso
Thought Leadership
Generational Differences at Work Are Smaller Than You Think
Research shows Millennials share the same motivations as other generations, and believing otherwise skews how we manage.