OK Boomer!

“OK Boomer!”, “Ok Millennial!”, “Can’t we all just get along?”

Every generation thinks the one that came before them just doesn’t get it. Different times, different influences, different discoveries all shape our reality.  Everyone is contemptuous of their elders until the day they wake up and they are old too. It’s likely if you are a Millennial, you were raised by a Boomer.

There has always been generational friction, Boomers gave us the internet, Millennials gave us Facebook, Boomers killed the Caspian tiger, Millennials killed Sears, can we call a truce?

We could make the world a better place if it weren’t for those meddling kids.   Every generation takes a stand, whether its civil rights, feminism and drugs and pot smoking for the Boomers, Millennials for LGBT, Black Lives Matter, Me Too, Legalizing Pot . Even though employees may look different now (piercings, tattoos, gauges and colored hair) but I still think we are all looking for the same thing at work.

Ok Boomers:

An opportunity to learn and grow.I think people genuinely want to expand their knowledge and have opportunities to advance move up and increase their income.

Having balance between our personal and work lifeMaking time for family and friends and interests outside and not letting their job be their sole source of reinforcement and delight.

Recognition and Reward for a job well done.And it’s not always “about the Benjamins”, personalized rewards and recognition mean a lot more.

To be Coached and MentoredLearning and understanding instead of orders and “because I said so!”

Leverage our strengthsWhether it be tech savviness, social media awareness, specific experiences and skills etc. Everyone has something to offer, discover what it is. Get input, seek opinions!

Mix things upHave me do different things, challenge me, make my day interesting. 

OK Millennials:

Request and suggest versus demand

Be confident and not cocky

Be thoughtful in your communication, face to face is better than text when communicating difficult information

Listen, rather than wait to talk.

Single task when you are in someone’s presence, multitasking when conversing is disrespectful, put down your phone.

“Ok everyone!”, Balance having fun with getting things done, now get off my lawn!