What Generation Gap?

Jennifer Deal of CCL just came out with a new book, Retiring the Generation Gap: How Employees Young and Old Can Find Common Ground.  Deal claims that people of all generations really want the same things, even though they may behave differently.   Key points:

Regardless of generation,

1. All generations have similar values.
2. Everyone wants respect.
3. Trust matters.
4. People want leaders who are credible and trustworthy.
5. Organizational politics is a problem — no matter how old or young you are.
6. No one really likes change.
7. Loyalty depends on the context, not on the generation.
8. It's as easy to retain a young person as an older one — if you do the right things.
9. Everyone wants to learn — more than just about anything else.
10. Almost everyone wants a coach.

Conflicts between generations are really a matter of who has clout and who wants it.

Being credible, trustworthy, a good listener, and having integrity (walking the talk) is more important than generational preferences in leadership styles.

Interested?  Read some of the summary points on CCL.org.