So much has been written about the different generations of people in the workforce, what they’re like, and how they can be managed effectively. We’re told that the people in these groups all behave in a certain way and share certain characteristics. A few common stereotypes are listed below:

  • Traditionalists – Behind the curve, unable to learn new forms of technology
  • Baby Boomers – Resistant to change, bureaucratic
  • Generation X – Grumpy, cynical
  • Millennials – Entitled, expect promotions without paying their dues

So are these stereotypes true? Research indicates that they’re not. Although people in different generations do share certain qualities and beliefs, for the most part, these stereotypes are false and misleading. People are unique and shaped by a variety of factors – not just the time period in which they grew up. So people of the same generation are often very different from one another, and people in different generations can have strong commonalities. For instance, surveys have indicated that people across all generational groups have similar interests in technology and feel comfortable communicating in variety of ways (face to face, emails, texts, etc.).

So why do these stereotypes exist? Because they make our lives easier! It takes time and effort to learn about a bunch of different people’s personalities, strengths, and interests. It’s much easier to separate those people into groups (based on their age) and draw general conclusions about them. But if you rely on stereotypes, you can miss out on amazing opportunities. You might overlook the 60-year-old employee who happens to be brilliant at programming. Or you might discount the 25-year-old employee who has leadership potential.

It’s best to avoid generational stereotypes and not make assumptions about people simply because they fall into a certain age bracket. Instead, try to evaluate people individually. Talk to them about their interests and preferences, and discover who they really are.

 

Cettina, T. (2015, April 9). Overcoming generational stereotypes in the workplace. Inc. Retrieved from http://www.inc.com/bankofamerica/overcominggenerationalstereotypesintheworkplace.html

Kadakia, C. (2014, May 11). Blatantly incorrect generational stereotypes: Communication methods by generation. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/crystal-kadakia/blatantly-incorrect-gener_b_4935179.html

Kriegel, J. (2015, September 3). Millennial stereotyping is hurting corporate America. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/oracle/2015/09/03/millennial-stereotyping-is-hurting-corporate-america/#6ccf7bed4d97