Generational Differences

People are a product of the culture in which they grew up. Culture changes dramatically over the years, producing generations of people with viewpoints specific to the place and time where they came of age. These viewpoints are ingrained into our personalities so deeply that it is unnatural to expect people to change with the times. Although older generations adopt new technology, the essence of who they are will generally remain rooted in the characteristics specific to their generation.

Generational variances are a major factor in workplace diversity. People of different generations can have a hard time understanding and relating to one another, simply due to different cultural norms and expectations. For example, a Millennial is as likely to know what a Davenport is as a Traditionalist is to know about Nintendo DS. (Both were considered hot commodities of their day, especially for entertaining company.) Lack of familiarity with certain terms or ideas can lead to miscommunication. What may be completely normal to one generation can seem rude, ignorant, or unproductive to another. Organizations must address how such viewpoints play a part in workplace communication, and teach employees to better relate to one another.