We have centuries and
centuries of traditions wherein any person who is elder, educated and erudite
is respected. Age and knowledge however, have a direct relationship. But in
recent times, this norm has been seen to be fading away, largely on account of
immense technological process and globalization. Though experience is of
significance, what matters most is how well you perform at work. In the light
of the foregoing, ingenuity, flexibility and learning prowess have come to be
regarded as prime movers for success. Therefore, people who have experience to
their credit are losing out to people younger to them.
When a junior overtakes you,
a shift of power and authority will always take place. And like all other
shifts, this shift will generate some hostility because taking directions from
someone younger and junior is not an easy task. There will be immense undercurrents
of pressures and strains; and which, will make the younger employees unduly busy,
despite their high morale, ingenuity and initiative. That is when workplace conflict
takes birth.
All conflicts are an outcome
of differences in viewpoints, approaches and mind-sets. Elderly employees who
hold decades of experience tend to suffer from feelings that their
once-upon-a-time juniors and now their bosses are yet to acquit themselves and
hence need to be more experienced to hold their current appointments. The young
bosses are also seen as being impulsive, rash and irresponsible in their conduct.
On the other hand, young bosses feel that the experience that the other
category possesses is out of date and outmoded; they are of the view that
superseded juniors are rigid in their approach and lack an –out-of-the-box
thinking capability. Since they are elderly, they are reluctant to embark on
ventures that call for toil or taking some risk.
The generational conflict
that prevails cannot be precluded. However, if one was to keep organizational
interests above everything else, there is no place for them. Ways and means to
reduce tensions have to be found. Here are some time-tested recipes to reduce
such tensions:
· Be insightful & amenable: Age
differences give rise to differences of disposition, outlook and mind-set
towards both towards work and life alike. Both generations are morally obliged
to be considerate and discreet in their dealings with each other. The younger
lot has to exercise restraint more than their older friends - be they juniors
or seniors. If it is understood that the oldies find it difficult to change and
adjust, the problems stand greatly reduced. After all, no individual likes to
be ordered around or treated like a shuttlecock. Having fortitude and staying power
in your dealings coupled with showing due respect to age and experience will
keep the machine well-oiled and going well.
· Discard inflexibility & severity of
approach: Opinions and stances apart, it would be presumptuous to state
that all old employees are disdainful and not all young bosses are hardliners.
Therefore, chauvinism and narrow-mindedness should be shed at all costs in all
dealings. What is important is the fact that interpersonal relations should be
viewed as associations between coworkers rather than juniors and seniors.
· Don’t get involved in unnecessary
confrontations: Memories should remain memories; the older lot should not
unnecessarily keep talking of the past. People will respect your age and experience
more if you cast off your haughty feelings and approach that people younger to
you are less knowledgeable. On the other hand, the younger lot, particularly
young bosses should also shed all apprehensions of the older lot as a cluster
of opposition. Perhaps their confidence can be earned if due respect is shown
to their age, experience and involvement.
· Be broadminded & tolerant: Anybody,
irrespective of his or her age or appointment should invariably be respected
for their outputs. There is no denying the fact that the older lot has solid experience
and steadiness to back them, whereas the younger lot is always bubbling with ingenuity
and are better poised to address the complexities of today's fast-moving
working milieu. Therefore, if both complement and supplement each other; and
learning from each other is resorted to, the results can be zenithal.
· Never let organizational interests
suffer It should be remembered that everybody, young and old alike has
to strive for maximum productivity so that organizational objectives are
achieved. You have to be clear about the
larger picture and considering it, all efforts have to be made in a positive manner.
Conflicts and differences therefore have no place at work.
Today, when all working
atmospheres are prone to regard outputs by employees as important vis-à-vis
their knowledge and experience, the need to overcome all conflicts and
differences arising out of generational gaps cannot be downplayed. And that
calls for special skills, understanding acumen and empathy. Develop these
traits and you will not have any problems at your workplace.
(
No comments:
Post a Comment