Improving Teamwork | Why Generations Matter
Improving teamwork is easy when you have the right tools and training. This video discusses why each generation matters in the workplace, and how improving teamwork requires some knowledge of generational tendencies. Topics include feedback and how the expectations are different from each generation.
Each generation, Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials have different expectations for the frequency and detail involved with feedback. Part of improving teamwork is customizing feedback frequency and detail to each employee, and understanding how their generation may affect how they want to and are best able to receive feedback. Not all people from each generation behave the same, however people in the same generation are influenced by many of the same macro trends and concepts. Because of this many people from the same generations do exhibit similar behaviors. These trends in behavior can be used to better understand each employee, and can be used as a starting point point or reference point for interaction.
Improving teamwork is also accelerated by helping teammates to understand the underlying causes of generational behavior, as well as the behavioral manifestations. For example, there are almost twice as many Baby Boomers as GenXers, so competition for everything was much greater. Because of this, Baby Boomer’s exhibit certain behaviors developed over a lifetime of competing against twice as many people for essentially the same resources.
Millennials also tend to have more of a desire to be in teams, to focus on personal growth, and not to be loyal to any one company or organization. Many Millennials grew up in a school system that focused on group work and team projects as an integral part of the education process. For Traditionalists and Generation Xers this same concept was called “cheating!” These are subconscious barriers drilled into previous generations that Millennials just don’t have.