WORDS TO LEAD BY - X Generation

Continuing with lessons from Wally Adamchik's book, titled Construction Leadership from A to Z which explores "26 Words to Lead By."

This session's word is X GENERATION

X GENERATION

X Generation (and Others) - a group of individuals, most of whom are the same approximate age, have similar ideas, problems, attitudes, etc.

"It's hard for me to get used to these changing times. I can remember when the air was clean and sex was dirty." - George Burns

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Your challenge as a leader is to understand and navigate those differences.

Within each generation are people who want to excel. They want to be led, and it is up to you to lead them.

In Generations at Work, Zemke, Raines, and Filipczak present the ACORN principle for leading across generations. This principle is:

1. Accommodate differences.
2. Create workplace choices.
3. Operate from a sophisticated management style.
4. Respect competence and initiative.
5. Nourish retention.

"Different" is not a question of good or bad. It is simply...different. If you accept that leadership is about building positive relationships with people, then it will not be difficult for you to accept your responsibility to get to know each of your people. It may be harder to get to know some more than others, but the final outcome will make it worth the effort.

"There was no respect for youth when I was young, and now that I am old, there is no respect for age - I missed it coming and going!" - J.B. Priestly

X Generation Jumpstart:

• Get to know someone from a generation you have a hard time with.
• Remember what is was like when you were young - then get over it.

This most recent Thanksgiving Day family gathering was an "in your face" reminder of the many generations each of us encounter every day. Helping Grandpa to the head of the table to carve the turkey, hushing the crowd to lay the baby down for a nap, holding the door open so the cousins could carry in their contribution to the dinner, and washing the dishes (without drowning the rest of the family) requires working together across all ages. Let's choose to enjoy the differences and to lead across the generations today and every day!

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc