Our Changing World: How Skills and Behaviors of a Multi-Generational Workforce are Needed to Remain Competitive

The world is changing. People are living longer. They're staying professionally active longer. One result: There are many different age groups in the workplace these days.

In addition to that, the demand for new skills and knowledge is accelerating. That means younger people are entering management and leadership earlier and more frequently.

Looking Beyond Generalizations

Everybody knows the workplace is becoming more diverse in terms of age groups. There's no shortage of information about what makes each group unique. However, there's more to it than that.

Individuals are unique. We are all influenced by our experiences, efforts and education. We are all different.

The Value of Different Skills, Experiences and Perspectives

As a leader, your job is to figure out what engages everyone in your organization. You need to develop and celebrate what you all share: A vision of success and a culture that pursues that vision.

Now — I'm a golfer. It helps me to think about the skills and experiences of different generations as different clubs in a golf bag.

Your millennials are like woods. They have the energy and technical knowledge your organization needs to power towards your goals. Your Gen X members could be irons or hybrids. They're a versatile group that can help you turn challenges into opportunities. Your baby boomers might be putters. They help you with finesse, control and — of course — sealing your deals.

The Clubs in Your Bag

It's the skills and experiences of your team members — not the people themselves — that you'll need to use to accomplish your goals. Your practice, knowledge and choices determine the course your organization takes. The skills and experience of your team members are what will move you forward.

Every so often, technical expertise from a young team member might land you a hole-in-one. In most circumstances, your success will depend on contributions from a diverse set of perspectives and practices. 

You need a variety of clubs in your bag to even have a chance at playing a decent round. You need the different skills and experiences of a multigenerational team to have a chance of making your organization's vision a reality.

It makes sense, and there are plenty of statistics and studies to back it up: You need multiple perspectives to remain competitive in today's ever-changing business environment.

Bringing Everyone Together

Your leadership challenge is focusing all of these varied perspectives. Sometimes, you will want to know exactly how people are different. Your soft skills, such as active listening and empathy, will serve you well in those situations.

Most of the time, you won't need the details. All you'll need to do is give your team is two main things to share – vision and culture. Everyone is part of your organization and, after all, they're all human.  

As humans, we all want to accomplish something great. As a leader, are you ready to lead and help people do that?