We hear so much these days about four generations in the workplace and the widely differing perceptions, opinions and work ethic of people. I have said for years that this has always been the case and I just found some data to support that, kind of.

A 1979 CBS/NY Times poll showed 60% of adults said there was a major difference in the point of view between younger and older people. This was down from 74% of adults in 1969. Here is the punch line. A recent Pew Research Center survey shows the number at an all time high. 79% of adults polled said there are major differences in the point of view.

OK, so the number is up a bit from 1969 and up a bit more from 1979, now what? Rather than lament the fact we need to work harder in our workplaces to overcome the gap. Leaders need to engage and generate a shared point of view. This is not easy but it is essential for ongoing success. There are universal truths that transcend generations and we would do well to remember them. People want to be respected, trusted and make a contribution. The challenge is finding the key to unlock their desire to make a contribution Just like no one key unlocks all doors, so too, all people are different and we must work to get to know them.

If we do not do this the generation gap will become a chasm we cannot bridge and business will suffer.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 25th, 2009 at 12:02 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.