“What? Wait a second – I thought there were three, maybe four and now I am learning there soon will be FIVE generations in 
the work place”?
If this question has crossed your mind and you even have said it out loud, then you are in good company! Yes, fearless leaders and slayers of generational differences- there are soon to be five, count them 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 generations emerging into the battlegrounds called work.
By 2020, our workforce will be dealing with a whole new set of challenges. Exciting challenges at that! So as we wait for the “next generation” to come onto the scene, we still need to ensure we have fine tuned our skills for dealing with the Traditionalists, the Boomers, the Gen Xers, and the Millennials. These four distinct groups add diversity, creativity, experience, and valuable lessons in the workplace and yet problems can arise from differing mindsets and communication styles of workers born in different eras.
The key is to be able to effectively address and take advantage of the differences in values and expectations of each generation. Managers will benefit from putting urban legends and false myths to bed about each one of the generations. The truth is all generations want to be respected for their ideas and insights, feel a sense of worth and belonging, and want to be rewarded and recognized for their contributions according to their individual preference So leaders, here are some tips for us to remember when working with all people:
- Be aware
- Be enlightening
- Be open
- Be a good example
- Be creative
- Listen to ALL employees and co-workers to create a positive and productive work environment
Jo Ellen Armstrong is manager of Associate Development at Mary Washington Healthcare, a member of the Leadership Colloquium @ UMW advisory board and will present a seminar on leading in a multigenerational workplace at our 21st annual colloquium. Check her out on twitter @JoEllenArm.
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