You’re currently at work, and you need to communicate a recent change to a project with an associate you work with down the hall. How do you communicate the change with that person? Do you pick up the phone? Do you send a quick email? Do you use the company chat? Does it have anything to do with when you were born?
One of the most new and unique aspects of organizations and leadership in general is understanding corporate culture. It’s a very interesting perspective to think that every organization has its own distinct culture. Culture for an organization is created by the policies of the company, the associates who add to aspects of that culture, while the organization continues to adapt to the changing of times. While leaders can help shift the culture and associates can assist in doing so as well, one newer aspect of company culture is catering to the various generations now in place in organizations.
In today’s workplace the most common generations are the Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials.
With each of these generations comes work habits, ethics, and communication skills that can drastically vary between individuals. So how do organizations keep and maintain a well-functioning culture and workplace when the workplace has changes so drastically between these generations?
“Training programs about culture and diversity have been popular for many years. For example, in the training and development field, a wide variety of programs teach cultural sensitivity and address issues related to cultural difference. At the core of these programs, people are taught about the nuances and characteristics of different cultures, and how to be sensitive to people in other countries and cultures.” (Northouse, 2013)
Working in the training and development department, offering various training classes is exactly our strategy in order to bridge the gap between the different generations within our organization. Every other year we have a speaker who presents during our all-staff meetings to teach us generational differences. We also offer classes on basic pc and cellphone use, understanding social media, and communication classes on appropriate way’s to communicate in the workplace.
As an example, there are very distinct way the different generations communicate in our workplace.
- We see baby boomers who communicate primarily through calling the various offices and using interoffice mail to transfer documents around the office.
- Generation X associates are more familiar with using email but also use the phone as a way to communicate. Depending on the situation many Generation X’ers inter-branch documents or drop off documents to departments in person.
- Millennials are commonly communicating through the organizational chat and email system, and prefer to hand deliver documents to specific departments.
As a trainer in our organization I’ve learned the most effective way to communicate with the various associates in the office is to mirror their most preferred communication channel. When I need to speak with a Baby Boomer I will call them, I will email a Generation X’er and Chat with Millennials. Continuing to train associates on the most effective communication channel, while also being sensitive to peer work habits is the most effective way to continue to guide employee culture in the right direction.
As a bonus discussion, I wanted to introduce a new aspect to employee culture I feel most students may not be aware of. I will admit, I have attended one of these parties, and it is a BLAST.
Would a morning rave before work ever be something a Baby Boomer or Generation X’er ever considered? What will the next generations bring to the table when culture and society continues to adapt to the new world?
I’m finding the most important thing to consider when dealing with organizational culture and leadership is to always understand there is not one solution to every problem. Rather each unique problem, with unique individuals, deserve a unique response or strategy in solving problems. Times will continue to change and the new forms of communicating and workplace culture and ethics will evolve. Leaders today, just like the leaders of the past and future will need to learn to adapt while also continuing to move forward towards their vision and goals.
References:
Northouse, P. (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Los Angeles, Calif.: SAGE.
The Early Morning Sober Rave | Mashable. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo2hyVUm9Dg
Generations 2010. (2010, December 15). Retrieved April 23, 2015, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2010/12/16/generations-2010/