When it comes to the workplace, there are certain... generalisations about certain generations. But are they true? And how do you deal with them?
"I guess we’re taught to chase after what we really want, without second-guessing too much.”
My role at my company is to… keep track of the behaviours, habits and mindsets of people, as well as cultural and business trends. These insights are meant to set our creative team in a clear direction so they can come up with ideas.
My best work trait as a millennial is… being an opportunity-seeker. We are open to tackling things we might not be 100 percent sure of, but will go for it anyway. However, this can make us seem like we’re a reckless bunch, and may also explain why people think millennials are frequent job-hoppers who are not loyal to their companies. I guess we’re taught to chase after what we really want, without second-guessing too much.
Something I really admire about my older colleagues is… that because they have more life experience than me, it makes them more level-headed and allows them to assess and analyse situations well.
Something I see my older colleagues struggling with is… getting out of their comfort zones. However, I won’t necessarily push them to do anything. It doesn’t seem very nice to impose my values onto others.
If I had to generalise… my older colleagues seem more loyal and complain less. They give me the impression that they will defend a company. The younger ones are extremely ambitious when it comes to workload but may seem a little wishy-washy.
My role within the company is to… maximise the potential of our assets, expand our business, safeguard the company culture and capitalise on our talents.
The best work trait of my generation is… that we’ve got the best of both worlds. When we were growing up, lateral thinking and [being open to] change were celebrated and taught in schools. But also, early in my career, I’d watch my bosses get rewarded for playing by the rules and just working hard. They taught me the value of loyalty and doggedness.
What I really admire about my colleagues is… firstly, millennials and their side hustles. I automatically grant interviews to applicants with side hustles. It shows they’re thinking about their future, are passionate, and are proactively working against the status quo, yet being mindful about the realities of life. They are the best people to hire. For my older colleagues, I admire their old school towkay (business owner) values. They’re straighttalkers. They mean what they say and have no fear standing up for what they believe in.
Something I see my colleagues struggling with is… For those who are younger, most of them grew up in a family environment so focused on them that they tend to take it harder when they’re given less leeway at work. They have also been immersed in an “instant” environment, so waiting and delayed gratification doesn’t come easy to them. For the older ones who are mostly managers of millennials, their challenge is to adapt their methods of staff retention, as what worked then, might not work as well now.
My role within the company is to… manage all internal and external communication and work with sponsors and volunteers.
The best work trait of my generation… is that we value stability and loyalty, so we stick to a job for at least three to four years. We are also better at looking at the bigger picture, rather than obsessing over the details.
Something I see my younger colleagues struggling with is… the confidence to make certain decisions. They also tend to be overly concerned about inconsequential issues that take up too much time and energy. I try and draw their attention to the core issue or problem, to allow them to see beyond their own perceptions and assumption.
Something I wish people would understand is… people from different eras have different mindsets. I think those from my generation are more stability-oriented, and that may make us seem like we’re not big risk-takers compared to our younger colleagues.
Text Compiled By Sophie Hong.
