Reading time – 39 seconds . . .
The math is ordinary first grade subtraction: 2015 – 1965 = 50.
That’s right: Our Gen-Xers started turning 50 years old this year. Go ahead and take the leap of mathematical trust, because it’s true. When I heard last year that this was about to happen I had a major WOW moment, but the fact is incontrovertible. I should have had a mindset adjustment then and been prepared for anything. Still, when I read about our Gen-Ys and Boomers this week from the blog of my former colleague Elisa Spain, the WOW thing happened again.
Likely, you’re quicker than I am, so you’ve already incorporated our demographic changes into your thinking, your culture and your leadership. For example, you already know how important it is to Gen-Ys to work for a company that is a good citizen, who not only does good in the world with its products and services, but gives back to the community directly in clear, tangible ways. You know how important mentoring is to those folks and you have an internal and perhaps even an external program for that. There is more, of course, but you’re on top of all that.
In the unlikely event that you and other leaders in your organization still expect others to think and act just as you do, this is a good time to get some mentoring for them and for yourself, because tomorrow is not going to look like yesterday. If you’re not prepared for that, the leadership math says that your results may vary considerably from your expectations.
BTW – Our Gen-Zs are turning 20 this year. Just so you know.
For more information on this, have a look at the Harvard Business Review article How Gen Y and Boomers Will Reshape Your Agenda.
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