Special Focus

 
Comment on This Story / Send This Article to a Friend

  Special Focus
The generation gap finds its way to work

7/21/2010 by Brittany Berrens

Twentysomethings sometimes get a bad rap. Touted as being “all about me,” and always in search of instantaneous results, these members of the Millennial generation, born between 1980 and 2000, grew up with a keyboard in hand and a phone in their ear.

Members of the Baby Boom generation may be inclined to complain about the Millennial work ethic, their casual dress, their methods of communication or even their sense of entitlement. But like it or not, Millennials are up-and-coming business professionals and they’re invading the workplace.

Brad Gingras is the youth services manager with the Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Program. He’s spent quite a bit of time getting to know this generation and watching how they’re adapting in the professional environment.

There is a noticeable generation gap developing in workplaces between Millennials and members of the Baby Boom, or post World War II, generation. The most noted difference: technology skills, said Gingras.

“One of the major differences for so many of the Millennials is as long as they can remember technology has played an incredible role in their life. Some may not even remember world without email,” he said.

Millennials agree. Twenty-four-year-old Mike Malone works at marketing form WestmorelandFlint in Duluth. For him, technology creates the biggest divide between him and older colleagues.

“We are a lot more well adapted to technology. We grew up with a keyboard in our hand. They’re getting there, but they’re definitely not there yet,” said Malone.

Twenty-five-year-old Sara Rolfson reported similar workplace experiences. The Sheraton Duluth sales manager recognizes the fact that co-workers her age are ahead of the curve when it comes to computers.

“We grew up doing everything on a computer and they grew up with a typewriter,” said Rolfson.

But the technology divide is bigger than simply possessing the ability to send an e-mail or set up a presentation online, Gingras says technology has changed the mindset of this younger generation.

“Everything is a click away, and because of that what some of us are experiencing now is we want results pronto. We live in a world with basically a short attention span,” said Gingras.

Technology has created a generation of multi-taskers. Not only can a Millennial be reading a book and watching television, but they can hold a text message conversation in between. This, says Malone, is evident in his work environment.

“I start one thing then I get a phone call and get started on something else. We’re watching TV, eating dinner, typing on our computer. That’s just what we do. Their generation just doesn’t do that,” said Malone. “I don’t see it as a problem but I think they look at us like we’re crazy.”

“They (baby boomers) seem more focused. Younger people are just bouncing around from thing to thing. They are more focused on finishing one thing,” said Wisconsin Public Radio Intern Laura Podgornik.

Differences aside, these young professionals could agree that while there were some challenges to working with older co-workers, there may be significant benefits in the workplace as well.

Both Rolfson and Malone agree that the wisdom and experience that the Baby Boom generation holds is something to value and from which to learn. The two say they’ve learned to spend more face-to-face time with others as opposed to texting or emailing other co-workers or clients.

“My co-worker is really great about networking and going out and meeting people and she communicates in person,” said Rolfson.

“I think some of the other people in my age group prefer the phone conversations or Skype and those kind of emerging medias. For older generations, there’s something about the handshake and those kind of face-to-face meetings,” said Malone.

And perhaps the differences really aren’t that bad. Rolfson noted that while the working styles of people her age were certainly different than those of the Boomer generation, it creates a unique working environment and a well-rounded team.

“When we’re the ones with the gung-ho ideas, they are the realistic ones that are like ‘Uh, no. It’s just not going to work because of this, this, and this.’ There’s a way to find a middle ground. It’s just finding it and working together to find it,” said Rolfson.

Malone offers this advice for the Baby Boomer frustrated by the style of a younger co-worker.

“We operate a lot differently than they do, but it works for us. We have our technology. That’s how we operate. Each generation’s got their characteristics and that’s what works for them,” said Malone. “Before you judge kind of take a look at what we’re doing and if it’s producing results and things are getting done. Then you can’t really second guess it.”

Brittany Berrens is a journalism student at UW-Superior and weekend producer for Fox 21 News.

Previous Special Focus Articles:

• The generation gap finds its way to work -7/21/2010
• Split Rock Lighthouse celebrates 100 -7/13/2010
• I'Falls paper mill turns 100 -2/23/2010
• Is the Internet the future for print? -12/15/2009
• Study documents mystery harbor corrosion -11/25/2009

via businessnorth.com

Posted via email from soulhangout's posterous