by Cynthia Miller of cindy.miller.atl.communications
As you watch the impact of the much-discussed generational mix on your company, pay particular attention to this: The most unsupervised generation in American history is starting to become the bosses of the most supervised generation in American history.
Generation X, the oldest of which were born in the late 1960s, is the next generation of corporate leadership. Independent from the time they were “latch-key children,” this demographic is moving into leadership vacancies created by the retirement of the Baby Boomers, now turning 60 at a rate of about 10,000 a day. Often described as a “cynical generation,” Generation X’s formative years were shaped by soaring divorce rates and two-income families, limiting the time they were physically in the presence of adults. They learned to do things themselves, at a young age, with little supervision.
Compare that upbringing to that of the Millennial generation, the oldest of which are now in their mid-20s. This generation saw a return to parenting, and has routinely sought out their parents for advice, encouragement and the creation of structure. Their time has been managed since they were toddlers, and praise was given out daily.
It’s the “Figure it out” generation up against the “How do I do it?” generation, and that’s bound to cause some friction in your company.
So what’s a CEO to do? Here are some ideas to help keep everyone focused on the business at hand:
- Promote flexible work arrangements. One thing both Gen X and Millennial can agree on is a desire for flexibility. Mandatory face-time is out; results-based management is in. But flexibility doesn’t mean you’ve lost control of employees and the work required. Train your managers in the skills of goal-setting and performance evaluation. You’ll find productivity increases (along with the bottom line) when your staff feels ownership for meeting company goals.
- Hone your employee communication strategy. Communication is critical to help the different generations understand the intricacies of a successful business. The standard employee newsletter may not be sufficient to a staff with expectations of immediate access to information. Personal communication skills, too, will play a vital role in keeping everyone focused on current business strategies and priorities.
- Train the next generation of leaders. Gen X and Millennials are poised to sit in the driver’s seat of your business. Is your next generation of leadership up to the task? You’ll skip many frustrations — both for yourself and your managers — if you invest in leadership development to give your management team the tools they need to lead.
Harnessing the power of the generations will move your company to the next level of success.
Cynthia Miller is the principal of cindy.miller.atl communications, a company that specializes in communication strategy including crisis communication and media relations. Learn more at http://cindymilleratl.com/