When Generations Collide: Who They Are. Why They Clash. How to Solve the Generational Puzzle at Work

by David Stillman and Lynne C. Lancaster

Book Overview

If your workplace feels like a battle zone and colleagues sometimes act like adversaries, you ore not alone. Today four generations glare at one another across the conference table, and the potential for conflict and confusion has never been greater.

Traditionalist employees with their "heads down, onward and upward" attitude live out a work ethic shaped during the Great Depression.

Eighty million Baby Boomers vacillate between their...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0066621070
• ISBN13: 9780066621074
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: Harper Business
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

All Supervisors should learn this!

This has been very enlightning to look outside one's own generation. Awareness is half the battle. Excellent resource.

When Generations Collide

For the first time in the U.S. history, we have four separate generations working side-by-side. They are the Traditionalists, Baby boomers, Gen Xers and Gen Y. While there is really no magic birth date that makes one a member of a specific generation, one's experience and sharing of history helps shape a `generational personality' during their formative years. This is a must-read book as `one-size' does not fit each generation's needs in terms of benefits, working hours, places of employment, methods of training/motivation and retention. With four generations in the work system, misunderstandings happen. Additionally, progressive organizations are realizing they need to develop new recruiting procedures, create new compensation,benefit and retention strategies to attract and retain the best of the four diverse groups in the work system. When generational collisions occur, it results in reduced profitability, presents hiring challenges, increased turnover rates, and decreased morale. Understanding the various generational identities will help in building bridges in the work environment. The book authors, Lancaster and Stillman, describe for the reader the four generational personalities and provide suggestions regarding rewards/retention/motivatational techniques that appeal to each generation. Briefly, the four generations are defined:Traditionalists were born between the turn of the last century and the end of World War II (1900-1945) and they number about 5M in population. The Traditionalists were impacted by two World Wars and the Great Depression. They learned to do without and the management style they learned came from the military - a top-down, boot-camp method. They were cautious, obedient. and spoke when spoken to. They would have never called their boss by `his' first name. For years they had career security of life-long employment opportunities so all the downsizing of the 80s/90s initially took them by shock. They have their own preference regarding rewards and respond to different recruiting messages. Baby Boomers: (Born from 1946-1964) represents the largest population ever born in the U.S. Their large number of about 80M created a competitive nature among them for jobs/opportunities. For the most part, they grew up in suburbs, had educational opportunities above their parents, saw lots of consumer products hit the marketplace (calculators, appliances). The television had a significant impact on their views of the world regarding equal opportunity and other human rights. They represent a great recruiting target as they `retool' for new career opportunities for those recruiters who have the knowledge on how to attract them. Generation X: Many members of the Generation X emerged into the workplace during the 1990s expansion and this is the smallest generation in terms of numbers (46M- due to birth control and working moms). They had a distinct competitive advantage in choice jobs `they wanted.' The technological r

Buying my 13 year-old her own palm pilot for her birthday!

Now I can understand why my 13-year old wanted her own PDA for her 13th birthday while I was perfectly content watching a Beatles movie when I turned 13 years old!I have just finished reading this book from cover to cover and found it to be extremely engaging, funny, informative and invaluable. I recently saw Lancaster and Stillman speak and was intrigued watching them in action-- as business partners, authors and great friends. Their partnership is clearly the selling point and the foundation in which I have appreciated this book. They are both funny, smart and very passionate about this topic.This book is extremely well written with strong content, relevant research and personal anecdotes. My favorite area has been the specific ClashPoints they have identified and explain each from the 4 generational points of views. Right on! This book is a must-read for high level executives in Corporate America who need to better understand how to recruit, manage, develop and retain a diverse workforce. It should also be on every parent's nightstand as they learn to balance the needs and expectations of their aging parents and their growing children.

A Great Book on Generational Differences

Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman have done us a tremendous service in researching and documenting the characteristics, styles and needs of the generations. This is a fascinating, funny book that clearly describes each generation, including stories and examples that leave us all smiling and nodding our heads in recognition at ourselves, or those we work and live with. In the workplace, just understanding how each generation needs to receive feedback makes this book worthwhile. Too often, those of us who manage employees or consult to organizations find ourselves wondering why someone was not motivated or delighted with our carefully thought out and delivered feedback! Their advice is specific, targeted and illustrative. Understanding why the generations approach the issue of life balance differently was a special eye-opener as well. The implications for retention and development are powerful, and a must to consider for anyone looking at workforce planning or even career planning for their children.

When generations collide

Terrific!!! Informative, Amusing, and Very Easy Reading. I have recommended "Generations" to everyone at work. Those who are able to work together, may be able to survive together. Professional survival is critical in the Bay Area; and I will use any edge I can.Essential reading!!!