Leadership
is the word, which to my understanding is having as many number of interpretations
as the human beings on this earth. Right or wrong, nobody knows.
Leadership
is vivid but varies from ‘History Makers’ to ‘History Destroyers’. Difference lies only in the understanding of person to person. Understanding - the first & foremost
requirement to be a good leader. Still lies a challenge in front of us.
What
is this challenge all about? It is
nothing but failure of understanding and appreciating the difference.
Today, the business at
large is consistent of 4-Generations: Baby boomers, Gen-X, Gen-Y, Millennial
and 1- Variation: Female workers. In total, 5-Mindsets.
Each
generation and female worker has its own set of values, biases and preferences that
make them unique and different to each other. Until these differences are understood
by organisations and their leaders, organisations and leaders will fail to tap
the talent.
If
we talk specifically about the reasons of misunderstanding, the boomers are
inclined to and demonstrate commitment with 84-hrs workweeks as they have gone
through that learning in their development time
Millennials
today understand loyalty just opposite to Boomers and Gen-X understand. Loyalty
for them does not mean staying at a company, building a career and retiring. But something different. Each millennial wants to be treated distinctly
and be appreciated for his/her contribution separately. They want to love their company only if the
company reflects who they are. Wow!!!
Gen-X:
Sturdy, stupid generation of today. It is these who do not understand the
generation next to them - Gen Y. Why because they do not want to understand.
Simple!!!
Gen-X
always wants their followers from Gen-Y to go through the same experience as they have gone through in their life. If suppose, they were given position of responsibility
after 5 or 10 yrs of their joining a corporate, they wish today the same for Gen-Y.
Gen-Y
on the other hand look for a place that is better aligned with
their values and work styles. Gen –Y, a generation i.e. self-absorbed,
entitled and tech-crazy are different in their work ethos. They leave work
place dot at 5 and come online soon later and stay hooked till past mid night.
They do not want to waste time in ‘learning by doing’ but want to contribute
then & there. They want meaningful work projects, with even the most entry-level
recruits wanting to feel connected to the greater mission of the organisation.
This is what Gen-X fails to appreciate. Gen-X is hell bent to give them the
same experience as they have undergone in their past. Disconnect lies here!!!
Further
deep into the psyche, boomers who have revolted against their parents,
still desire respect from next generation. Wonderful expectation, isn’t it?
It
is where the change has to begin. But alas!!, it is taking all un-required time
to happen. Just because, as research has demonstrated that humans subconsciously
process information related to friends or ‘in-group’ people differently than
processing the same information related to strangers.
Leaders
and Followers are Strangers, today. Both are in their own worlds of Processing. Leadership however, has to start with understanding
of Culture, Gender and Generations. Few people understand it, they become hero, either in their own life time or later. But they do become hero.
If we could learn to appreciate these differences, production and productivity will improve automatically.
If we could learn to appreciate these differences, production and productivity will improve automatically.
Give
it a try colleagues in Corporates here in India, and elsewhere in the world. Corporate World will be different.
