Bridging the Gap Successfully Managing a Multi-Generational Workforce For the first time in history, we have five generations in the workplace, which also means dealerships are juggling the interests, needs and communication styles of members whose ages span over a half-century. Each of these groups has been influenced by the socio-cultural events that took place during the formative years of their lifetimes, including how each generation views its financial needs, goals and communication preferences. A generation is defined as “a group of people born around the same time and raised around the same place. People in this birth cohort exhibit similar characteristics, preferences and values over their lifetimes.” This generational melting pot presents an interesting puzzle for both owners and management teams because a one-size-fits-all approach is no longer an effective way to engage all employees. In order for employees to be fully engaged and participate more and more, the feedback is to communicate with them how they want to be communicated with. Generations have differences in the values, beliefs and opinions of different groups of people. While some believe strongly in the differences, others believe they are a myth. Those believing in the differences assert they are important to recognize and accommodate, especially in settings with multiple generations in today’s workforce. THE GENERATOR 14
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