Plus ça change - the generation game.

more worried about the planet?

There was a TV show that held the nation captive each Saturday night called the generation game. Hosted originally by Bruce Forsyth. The basis of the game being four teams of two people from the same family, but different generations competing to win prizes. A test of inter-generational team-work and, according to Brucie, famously a "good game, good game".

Today each generation has a moniker (when did that start to happen BTW?) and inter-generational differences are mapped, chronicalled, studied and dissected with a mix of facination by psychologists and frustration on the part of everyone else.

The latest generation to enter the workplace is Generation Z. By way of introduction, apparently they ...

• value salary - but less than every other generation: instead valuing working for a good global citizen making a difference in the world. And here, actions speak louder than words as employers need to demonstrate a commitment to challenges such as sustainability, climate change, and hunger.

• value ( expect) diversity, equity and inclusion.

• are innately digital and connected globally - they have not known any other way. The way they prefer to communicate is more instant (and via devices), as is their timescales for gratification.

• place greater value on work life balance, and flexibility (including the ubiquitous WFH)

• do not easily relate to the legacy structures of career progression being a linear path that starts somewhere near the bottom - rather want to amass cool experiences in ad-hoc more transient project focused roles.

• will therefore change jobs with greater frequency.

• relate more to experience and to picture/video than material items or text.

• mentally less robust, and more prone to anxiety

On first reading, even to someone who just squeezed into the broad church of "baby boomers", none of this sounds odd, unreasonable or inexplicable. We can understand that values shift and work changes - more so given the likely impact of AI and automation where greater emphasis will be placed on creativity and flexibility. We can also see that the pace of technological change will give birth to a generation comfortable with this. After all no one pines for the return of curled edge logarithmic tables and protractors and set squares (look it up). We can hardly deny that the earths resources are finite and need protection from the depletion we have caused..

But at the same time, the importance of a good work ethic, loyalty and career progression remains valid today. So, all of this feels a little uncomfortable to Millennials and downright scary for generation X, whilst most of the baby boomers can begin to sit back and watch with a mixture of mild amusement and trepidation - at least for now It is however the way that the world works as each generation brings a new perspective.

If I was to translate the above bullet points through the lens of previous generations it could read like a damning indictment on these new kids on the block ...

• lazy - don't want to work hard - not ready to enter the workplace

• don't want to turn up at the office

• not reliable

• want job promotions before ready

• little loyalty

• fragile

• don't want to talk face to face

• more interesting in saving the planet.

But such a jaundiced view is perhaps simply a modern day equivalent of how past generations also saw our generation as we grew up. Generational change is not always easy to accept.

From generation Z they might view their elders as

• slow to adapt to change

• digitally inept

• chained to their desks

• working to live - with no balance

• clinging to the last remnants of "jobs for life"

• lacking empathy towards them.

Two sides of the same coin? ... Maybe there is a common ground that can be reached with a little give and take....

For Generation Y: Cut these young people some slack and use their undoubted skills and energy to help your business. Invest in them and grow them. teach them and learn from them. Give them the life skills of resilience and drive. Understand that life has changed.

And of course for the younger entrants to the world of work and business: respect the experience of those that have gone before and appreciate that new skills alone are nothing without experience, often maturity and hard work.

As countless baby boomers have learned the hard way ... plus ça change!