This issue:
The feature article, “Managing the Generations: Valuing the Wisdom of Age and Contributions of Youth,” by Valerie M. Grubb tackles one of the biggest challenges facing companies today: the multigenerational workplace. When workers from three (sometimes even four) generations work alongside each other, differences in work ethic, expectations, goals, and communication styles emerge and can cause conflict. Grubb writes that the right mindset can help mitigate problems that emerge: “Just as more seasoned workers need to embrace the enthusiasm and new ideas of new recruits, younger employees also need to learn how to see things from the perspectives of their more seasoned colleagues.”
Also in this issue:
Kim Peters, too, recognizes the value of seeing things from multiple perspectives. In “Innovation through Diversity,” she explains that companies that lack diverse workforces are missing out on valuable opportunities for knowledge sharing and innovation. “The most effective employers,” she writes, “make a conscious effort to ensure that team members of all backgrounds feel connected to the organization and comfortable being themselves at work.”
And connectedness—both with each other and with the company at large—is increasingly vital to a successful work environment. “The ability to collaborate seamlessly both within offices and across time zones has changed the very nature of work, and experience in effectively managing and nurturing relationships is at a premium,” explains William Clarke in “Hire Good Collaborators to Build a Creative, Scaleable Organization.”
Whether your organization has just a handful of employees or hundreds (or thousands!) of them, you’ll find many benefits to fostering an environment in which communication, cooperation, and collaboration are valued. When your employees are able to work well together, they’re able to work better in general.
About Advanced Resources HR Insights:
Insights from the eyes of industry leaders. In every edition of our HR Insights Magazine, influential and wide-ranging thought leaders in HR, recruitment, staffing, management, and other fields discuss themes that are relevant to our clients’ businesses.