Gen Y Hate Lit

The Boomers wear black.

We are finding that generational differences intensify in the workplace even more when opposing Interaction Styles are in play. (ie. Baby Boomers with a ‘Commander’ Interaction Style are struggling to connect with Millenials who find the style particularly insufferable on-the-job.) JT O'Donnell

Of course, the Boomer is the one with the unattractive personality. Because in the Gen Y world, she's always the bad guy. But how about this scenario? A mild-mannered Boomer finds a Commander-style millenial insufferable. Unlikely? I don't think so.

For the last few hundred years, tyranny has become ever less acceptable in our culture. So, it makes sense to assume that Gen Y will carry this trend forward. But does that mean that there is a huge divide between Gen Y and the Baby Boomers on the issue of bossiness?

If the Baby Boomers had come from a pre-modern country, I would say yes. We all know families who emigrate to the modern world from primitive lands and what happens? The parents get very upset because they expect to continue to their despotic rule only to find that in North America they can no longer control their children's lives.

But the Baby Boomers we're talking about don't fit that bill. And to picture them as tyrants on a consistent basis is a sign of "systemic prejudice". By whom? The Gen Y-ners and their boosters who see them as some kind of master race which towers over anyone who came of age before, oh, I don't know, Britney Spears?

Comments

[J.T. O'Donnell]

Dear RB,

Thanks for commenting on the post. I must state that my single example regarding the impact of Interaction Styles in the workplace does not make me a believer in a 'Gen Y master race.' I'd be happy to share numerous examples of how Baby Boomers are feeling more than just a little frustrated with Gen Y's Interaction Styles - not to mention, how they are often ill-equipped to deal with them effectively. That being said, can I offer this for consideration?

I've seen plenty of cases where Boomer managers, who are quick to say they are 'older and wiser' to a Gen Y employee, don't seem to show much of a capacity to coach effectively, a.k.a. communicate, with the younger, less experienced generations. What makes it a bit disturbing is that Boomers created the so-called 'master race' you speak of. So, shouldn't they also try to look beyond the problem and start identifying ways to bridge the gap? The companies I've consulted with this year see value in trying to improve their efforts, not Gen Ys. As opposed to complaining about the younger generation's entitled attitude, their finding ways to leverage it.

Here's one thing I can say for sure: for a host of reasons (ie. increased use of technology, more folks working remotely, multiple generations in the workplace with vastly different perceptions of the term 'professionalism,' etc.), the American workforce's ability to communicate effectively is diminishing. And that means, tollerance is dropping as well. I'm worried about the increased levels of frustration in the workplace. That's why I made my ISAT tool free, to help raise personal awareness around the impact our personality and communication style has on-the-job so that we can all see the need to respect and utilize one another's styles at work.

And here's one more reason why we should encourage Boomer managers to brush up on their coaching skills: just imagine how much easier it would be to recruit talent if companies and their managers could make more people with diverse personalities work well together...

[Recruiting Animal]

Thanks for your comment, JT. So how did Ryan end up with a quote that makes the Boomer look like the heavy?

"multiple generations in the workplace with vastly different perceptions of the term
'professionalism,'"

Surely that's been going on for forty years.

[J.T.]

I gave Ryan that example because the idea behind EE.com is to discuss a Millenial's perception of the situation, as well as offer tools/advice that can help.

Don't worry though (and here comes the shameless plug), I have my own blog that speaks specifically to management and the frustration they are facing coaching younger generations today. Hit my site, www.jtodonnell.com, and click on the 'Talent Guru Reading' section and you find plenty on the subject, I promise.

Thanks again for the discussion, and I agree, varying viewpoints have been going on for 40 years. The difference now has to do with our society's internal struggle with career and how the older and younger generations are at odds with respect to the priority it should have in living a good life. The 'American Way' is being questioned by the entire workforce, causing a new dynamic that we haven't dealt with to date.

Let me know if you plan to write about that topic - I'd love to throw in my two cents...

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