Basic guide to the generations

While finding common ground within a generation can be easy especially where people have spent their formative years in the same era. However, building bridges across generations remains challenging. Members of different generations often do not share the same points of reference or the same level of connectedness. Where there is communication breakdown, there are obvious implications for the workplace.

Managers and leaders need to acknowledge that diversity of age among their subordinates may add much value in terms of ideas, creativity and innovation. And as the population ages, everyone will need to better understand the make-up of the generations.

Traditionalists - born prior to 1946: Though numbers are declining, they are a hardy lot with many having grown up with memories of the hard times of the Second World War.

Baby Boomers - born between 1946 and 1964: They saw a world that rapidly developed and experienced an era of unprecedented economic growth and wealth creation; far healthier and better educated than any previous generation.

Generation X – born between 1965 and 1980: In the workforce maybe they are misunderstood – many are struggling to cope with the changes and sharp shifts in the modern terms of employment though some have launched their own enterprises and others head-up major global companies.

Generation Y - born between 1981 and 1999: The most technologically savvy, this group is set to introduce major new technologies into the workplace.