Leadership and Communication Styles from Different Generations

The modern workplace presents many challenges to effective communication and as companies work towards greater diversity difficulties and misunderstandings are bound to arise. Most of the time when we think of diversity we envision ethnicity, cultural and gender based differences. However, now that there are four generations in the workplace generational differences in leadership communication styles and preferences are becoming more obvious and consequently more of an issue (Birkman, 2009). While the generation to which we belong does not define us or our communication style it can influence the way we communicate, what communication technologies and medias we are comfortable using and how we prefer to be communicated with.

Each generation (Traditionalist, Baby Boomers, Gen X and Millennials) has been influenced by the historical, social and cultural factors of their time (Birkman, 2009). Each generational group has a different frame of reference and a different way of communicating. A Baby Boomer may refer to a CD as a record, a Gen Xer may not know what a record is and a Millennial may say “What’s a record and why would you buy a CD when you can just download the music?” (Scheid, 2010). Baby Boomers are the largest generational group in the workplace and we have been for a long time. As a “Boomer” I would agree that we do not like to be micromanaged, and that our leadership style is consensual and collegial (Birkman, 2009). We want buy in from everyone involved and we don’t care how you get to the destination as long as everyone is going in the same direction. This is a reflection of my own natural hands-off leadership style. I explain what needs to be accomplished but I will leave you to figure out how to get there, with onl...

... middle of paper ...

... however, need to limit us in our attempts to recognize and appreciate the communication and leadership styles of other generations or to gain a better understanding of how we can work together.

Works Cited

Birkman. (2009). How do generational differences impact organizations and teams, part 1? Retrieved April, 14, 2011, from http://www.birkman.com/news/BMI_GenerationsPart1.pdf

Birkman. (2009). How do generational differences impact organizations and teams, part 2? Retrieved April, 14, 2011, from http://www.birkman.com/news/BMI_GenerationsPart2.pdf

Scheid, J (2010). Dealing with the communication styles of different generations. Retrieved April 14, 2011, from http://www.brighthub.com/office/home/articles/76498.aspx

Warner, J. & Sandberg, A. (2010). Generational Leadership. Retrieved April 14, 2011, from http://www.kiwata.com/pdf/Generational-Leadership.pdf