Clash of the Generations: Managing the New Workplace Reality

by Valerie M. Grubb

Case studies and strategies for more effective multi-generational management Clash of the Generations explores this new and increasingly common workplace phenomenon, and provides strategies to help managers navigate this ever more complex maze. Traditionally, older workers would retire and make room for the next generation; instead, Baby Boomers are now prolonging their time in the workplace, yet the successive generations are still coming in. Senior leaders are now left to manage a blended workplace comprised of up to four generations-each with their own ideas of work ethic, work/life balance, long-term career goals, and much more. Management is challenging at the best of times, but the new prevalence of generation gaps-sometimes even layered-add an entirely new dimension to an already complex responsibility. This book presents case studies and interviews with representatives of companies with age-diverse workforces, detailing innovative strategies for smoothing out the bumps and helping everyone work together.

Managers have long wished that their positions came with an instruction manual, and this book delivers with a host of effective inter-generational management strategies illustrated by real-world companies.


Manage the multi-generation workplace more effectively Navigate the generational culture clash Adopt proven strategies for helping everyone get along Promote a more positive culture amidst clashing expectations Every generation in the workplace has value, each has their own strengths, their own weaknesses, and their own unique talents. Each is indispensable, and when they come together as a synergistic force, they can be unstoppable. Effective management means bringing out the best in your workforce, and the strategies presented in Clash of the Generations help you streamline your varied workforce into a team more valuable than the sum of its parts.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

Published October 31, 2017

About the author

My father was a pilot, so I was born with travel in my blood. I took my first solo trip at the age of four (when I wandered out of eyesight of my house one day). Since then I’ve continued to make exploring the world a priority while pursuing careers in both operations management and executive coaching.

Mom and I took our first overseas vacation together when she was sixty-four, and in the more 20+ years since then, we’ve logged over 300,000 miles (and counting!).

In response to the lack of available resources on the subject of seniors traveling with their adult children, I began publishing Travel with Aging Parents in 2013, a blog that chronicles the triumphs (and challenges) of intergenerational travel with a “you can do this” flair. I love to hear about other people's travel adventures and can be reached at travelwithagingparents@gmail.com.

Reviews

[Beck Frost · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gets boring and repetative quickly. I don't know how many times it is stated things like how "Boomers (for the most part) no longer want to just retire and a partial part-time schedule works for them." Or, how the Millenials are "enthusiasic" only to be shot down by Boomers.

So, when this book does break down some specific topics to how the four generations (Boomers, GenX, Millenials, and GenZ) see an issue or need based how their collective generational knowledge of how they were taught in school, world events and other factors that enfluenced them as a whole, those parts are the strong parts of the book. But those were maybe a dozen pages and weren't even included in all the chapters. To get from those breakouts, there is a lot of generalization repetition (as mentioned) and then even more commentary about it. Also, the author loves to give pats on the back for successes concerning some of these with the repetitive, "When I worked at Oxygen Media..." An example of a chapter as filler is the one called "You as a motivating force." Nothing in this chapter that can't be found in other books or sources, and most definately, nothing that breaks the chapter out by generational characteristics. I mean "YOU" the reader is the subject, but nothing about you and your generation being a motivating force is ever really evaluated in this chapter.

So in short, I can't help but think that the content that made this book unique could have been reduced to one of those QuickStudy Laminated Reference Quides.

[Rachel Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished reading this book a few months ago, but forgot to notify Goodreads. lol, lol.... Anyway, this is an extremely enlightening book that everyone in the workforce should read, and ESPECIALLY those in management positions. The reason I picked this book up at the library was that at the time, I was experiencing some "clashes" of my own in the workplace where I was employed, and it made me think that perhaps some work cultures are lacking in understanding this dynamic of how all ages and generations need to learn to work together for the benefit of the company. Although, I suggested the book to the upper management, I didn't feel my recommendation was well received by him. This really surprised me since this particular company is highly regarded as being on Forbes Top 50 List of Best Employers to Work for. I, personally, find these management books to be so helpful and informative, and I would take a recommendation from ANYONE in the company I worked for, including the receptionist, mail clerk, or even the janitor...for that matter. After all, a good book is a good book...and, we ALL can improve in certain areas, can't we?

[Mahmoud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice clarifications of differences in beliefs, needs, motivators, and the way of thinking at work between baby boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. It focuses on the importance of such diversity in workplace and how to benefit from it.
It is good for leaders to go through it to understand how different generations think and what they expect, as well as be able to predict their future steps. It doesn't consider a comprehensive analysis of generations characteristics; however, it introduces valuable takeaways for the subject.

[Maksym Markov · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you want to improve diversity and inclusion, please DO NOT read this book. Many recommendations and techniques provided in the book are valuable, but strong single country generation bias is ruining any positive impression you can get. The book effectively condition reader to build subconscious bias based on age.

[Kristine R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected this book to contain a lot of information about generational research. It was more of a general leadership book with bits and pieces of generational info sprinkled in. Some of the chapters seemed to have very little info about different generations. OK book overall, but definitely didn’t live up to the title.

[Andrew Mayes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible and repetitive.

[Theresa Wade · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started out interesting, then became repeative.

[Alice Bissett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Val Grubb has tackled this growing problem for many of us human resource professionals head on. I've spent the last twenty years in Human Resources and I find I spend more time trying to mediate between generations who are trying to communicate to get the job done. Many of our managers have come up through the ranks and have received their title because of the good work they did -- not necessary because they would be good leaders. But smaller companies like ours are loyal to these individuals. Now try hiring the Generation X employees, who often times have a much more advanced skill level, and putting them under a manager with very different ideas of how to get the job done. Yes, Val Grubb said it correctly -- CLASHES that happen so often that I find myself spending more time trying to help bridge this gap.

Ms. Grubb states the facts right off the bat. Generation X comes in with not a great deal of faith in the business world, wants inclusion in the decision making process and value their time away from work -- all things that their manager often times doesn't recognize or accept.

I would highly recommend this book not only to the Human Resources Professionals out there but to parents of generation X'ers out there as well. We have to be able to understand and embrace their differences and use these differences to help us change and grow.

Kudos to Ms. Grubb for a book that will help us achieve this.

[Ingrid Laub · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential guide for managing employees of any age! Grubb's premise is that no one management style fits all. We need to be cognizant of what motivates each employee to do great work, and generation is one important differentiating factor.

[Bernhard Fraling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valerie describes the ups and downs between generations. It's a highly recommended read when you want to hire someone who most likely chooses a lifestyle from another generation. It's not about your age but the different needs of generations in the now.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through Goodreads. Very educational and inquisitive look into new ways of managing diverse groups of employees.