Send to KindleThe Gen X Myth
I was listening to a webinar about how to work with Generation X and was surprised and appalled by the Xer hosts diatribe about other generations. She said she absolutely hated Baby Boomers and wouldn’t work with them. She also felt Millennials were inept. She talked about her own generation’s hatred of working in groups.
Every generation develops a reputation. Usually, that reputation is developed early in the generation and sometimes manages to survive through the following decades. Unfortunately, that reputation is usually based on the actions of a subgroup of the entire generation. For instance, some Baby Boomers spent their early years in a drug induced state, but not all of them did. All generation’s grow, mature, and change, often leaving behind those habits or traits that defined them in earlier years.
That dynamic has changed a little with Generation X. As with all things, the internet began to play a role in the development, and reputation of a generation. While in the past, anyone could write a book that, no matter how long it stayed on the best seller list would only be read by a fraction of the population, the internet allows anyone to spout off about anything with a much larger, and more instant audience. The ubiquitous internet has allowed members of Generation X to tell everyone how bad their life is.
Unfortunately, this high-speed dissemination of information has also allowed opinions to become fact and isolated cases to become main stream. There have been a number of articles and opinion pieces circulating that lament the lack of leadership ability among Xers. These “woe is me” commentaries bewail the future of corporate America as Boomers retire and Xers just aren’t ready to step up.
Let me put all this to rest. I’ve worked with, and supervised many members of Generation X and have never had any problems. They worked well in groups, they made fine leaders, and they definitely had valuable input. In fact, when I left my last leadership position, responsible for a large and very complex organization, I had no compunction about leaving “my” organization in the capable hands of an Xer.
Leaders must realize that generations are made of people and each person is different. Yes, some Xers had bad experiences growing up and yes, in general the generation tends to be a bit skeptical. That’s not all bad though. Something to consider as a leader is that Xers can be a bridge between the old and new. They tend to have a foot in the Baby Boom Generation and the Millennial Generation.
Before the internet, the blathering of a few malcontents was usually seen as just that. Today, the speed and reach of information gives those malcontents a new venue. Leaders must still see this for what it is. Your own experience is still one of your best guides.
Get Balancing the Generations: A Leader’s Guide to the Complex, Multi-Generational, 21st Century Workplace.
