Many a times, you would have heard this term "Generation Gap"; This word always gets figured as a pretext to show that We (Our generation) are different from You (Your generation). Before I go further and use this word "generation" more, I would like to throw a synonym of it i.e. Cohort- "People within a delineated population who experience the same significant events within a given period of time".
The above bolded statement would help us in categorizing the Generations (accepted by researchers and sociologists) as follows-
Traditionalists (Gen. T) – Born before 1945; Also called Silent Generation. Typically defined as “team players, indirect communicators, institutionally loyal, obedient, dutiful and associated with organizational seniority.”
Baby Boomers (Gen. B) – Born 1946-1964. Traditionally described as “visionary, skilled at seeing the big picture, title agnostic, optimistic, job-oriented, conflict adverse, competitive but also increasingly interested in work-life balance.”
Generation X – Born 1965-1979. Usually regarded as “positive, goal oriented, multitaskers, globally minded, self-reliant, informal, freedom loving, job neutral and techno-literal.”
Generation Y – Born 1980-2000. Also called Millennials (2000). Typically described as “confident, sociable, street smart, diverse, technologically savvy, multitaskers and non-confrontational.”
Thus, the core idea and matter of fact is Year of Birth determining your generation and distinguishing traits, characteristics and styles of different generations.
In layman's words, Generation Gap can be defined as a gap between the thinking, attitude and behavior of father and son/daughter; saas (mother-in-law) and bahu (daughter-in-law); Nokia 1600 equipped boss Sharma Jee and tech-savvy I-Phone user Sam (Shyam).
Each generation offers unique perspectives, experiences, skills and more importantly contrasting attitudes towards work habits, communication styles and technology utilization.
Is this generation difference/gap? Is it positive? Does it affect the moral fabric of society? Does it yield to conflicts and disputes? Are these disputes avoidable or solvable?
To answer myself and the above posed questions (by me and their generation on me and this generation), the following two parameters are being discussed-
a. Career- How does one value career and how he/she understands and assigns the values to his/her career perspectives?
Gen. T and B were first-generation education getters (school-goers) and thus after completion of B.Sc/M.Sc (B.Tech/M.S @Gen. X and Y) looked for jobs to sustain their families (and families of families-Joint Family culture). Hard Labor and dedication used to be the defining "mantra" to climb up the ladder in jobs and promotion was based on these traits. Perseverance and Tolerance in behavior at work gave them satisfaction, the desired end-result of work. "Karma hi puja hain" was the one-liner of employees of these generations for whom work was as sacred as prayers and Boss next to God.
Working hours were rigid and systematic ("8 meaning 8"). Risk-taking ability was minimal and people once employed used to stay in the same company for decades and sometimes celebrating silver jubilees (may also be as a token of gratitude, relation maintenance and loyalty to the company or job). A decent salary and peaceful life with family, balancing the duo-Work-Family was above all.
Almost everything has changed for Gen. X and Y if you attempt to do a minute and point-by-point comparison on the theme "Career".
Ambitions and aspirations are at its peak and becoming the deciding factor for choosing career. Lucrative packages and CTC's i.e. "Apna Sapna Money Money" run in their minds more than anything else (driver's seat). Smart Work is preferred over Hard Work; The feeling of paucity of time for parents and family (backseat) always is another distinguishing feature of them.
Work hours and timings have become fluid, flexible and suiting the employee not the employer as earlier. Even the work place has changed from Office to Home (option available and availed). When it comes to risk, it won't be incorrect to call it a synonym for this generation. Their urge to "switch-over" and change cos. paying better (especially in IT sector) has revolutionized the employee-employer (EmE-EmR) relationship. Earlier this EmE-EmR relation was of a giver-taker (of work done) as compared to present day's taker-giver (of money in lieu of the work done); thus monetization of work has prevailed the picturesque of today's working culture.
b. Technological- MS Office (Word, Excel, PPT) has transformed the complete modus-operandi of presenting and calculating or tabulating things as compared to Registers and Bahi-Khaatas. Mobiles from Nokia 1100 to Android (-kitkat-lolypop)-Windows (-XP-7-8-8.1-10)- Apple powered smartphones (no more mere phones).
These generations differ in utilization of the tech available for all- Gen. T and B being Tech-disabled/handicapped (Exceptions are there) and tech -savvy (gadget friendly-Mobiles, Lappy, Ipods, MP3 Players with headphones and speakers-BOSE to JBL and Bluetooth transferred from mobiles to ears) Gen. X & Y. This is just a matter of timing and adaptability (favoring the X,Y). Mostly, one may listen to the T & B asking X & Y to not get over-dependent on technology and ignoring the basics (which has taken a back foot). Face of Social networking has changed from visiting friends and families on weekends to Facebook or WhatsApp or Skype. Internet-Bane or boon is beyond discussion and out of question as the utilization of the same decides the category its placed.
Managing generation-gap isn't rocket-science (buzz word these days). In fact it is more of a social science. Compromise is inevitable. But with honest, open communication and strategic mechanisms that promote healthy exchanges, generation gap can be transformed to one generation aiding other to build a seamless and bilateral transfer of knowledge and leadership for the benefit of the society we live in.
The topic of this blog was in my mind since long time. Special Thanks to my mother and Sumana Sen to throw some light on this, enabling me finally to pen these thoughts and opinion I, Gen. Y (1990 born) have about my preceding (senior) generations-T (grandparents), B (parents) and X (uncles).
The above bolded statement would help us in categorizing the Generations (accepted by researchers and sociologists) as follows-
Traditionalists (Gen. T) – Born before 1945; Also called Silent Generation. Typically defined as “team players, indirect communicators, institutionally loyal, obedient, dutiful and associated with organizational seniority.”
Baby Boomers (Gen. B) – Born 1946-1964. Traditionally described as “visionary, skilled at seeing the big picture, title agnostic, optimistic, job-oriented, conflict adverse, competitive but also increasingly interested in work-life balance.”
Generation X – Born 1965-1979. Usually regarded as “positive, goal oriented, multitaskers, globally minded, self-reliant, informal, freedom loving, job neutral and techno-literal.”
Generation Y – Born 1980-2000. Also called Millennials (2000). Typically described as “confident, sociable, street smart, diverse, technologically savvy, multitaskers and non-confrontational.”
Thus, the core idea and matter of fact is Year of Birth determining your generation and distinguishing traits, characteristics and styles of different generations.
In layman's words, Generation Gap can be defined as a gap between the thinking, attitude and behavior of father and son/daughter; saas (mother-in-law) and bahu (daughter-in-law); Nokia 1600 equipped boss Sharma Jee and tech-savvy I-Phone user Sam (Shyam).
Each generation offers unique perspectives, experiences, skills and more importantly contrasting attitudes towards work habits, communication styles and technology utilization.
Is this generation difference/gap? Is it positive? Does it affect the moral fabric of society? Does it yield to conflicts and disputes? Are these disputes avoidable or solvable?
To answer myself and the above posed questions (by me and their generation on me and this generation), the following two parameters are being discussed-
a. Career- How does one value career and how he/she understands and assigns the values to his/her career perspectives?
Gen. T and B were first-generation education getters (school-goers) and thus after completion of B.Sc/M.Sc (B.Tech/M.S @Gen. X and Y) looked for jobs to sustain their families (and families of families-Joint Family culture). Hard Labor and dedication used to be the defining "mantra" to climb up the ladder in jobs and promotion was based on these traits. Perseverance and Tolerance in behavior at work gave them satisfaction, the desired end-result of work. "Karma hi puja hain" was the one-liner of employees of these generations for whom work was as sacred as prayers and Boss next to God.
Working hours were rigid and systematic ("8 meaning 8"). Risk-taking ability was minimal and people once employed used to stay in the same company for decades and sometimes celebrating silver jubilees (may also be as a token of gratitude, relation maintenance and loyalty to the company or job). A decent salary and peaceful life with family, balancing the duo-Work-Family was above all.
Almost everything has changed for Gen. X and Y if you attempt to do a minute and point-by-point comparison on the theme "Career".
Ambitions and aspirations are at its peak and becoming the deciding factor for choosing career. Lucrative packages and CTC's i.e. "Apna Sapna Money Money" run in their minds more than anything else (driver's seat). Smart Work is preferred over Hard Work; The feeling of paucity of time for parents and family (backseat) always is another distinguishing feature of them.
Work hours and timings have become fluid, flexible and suiting the employee not the employer as earlier. Even the work place has changed from Office to Home (option available and availed). When it comes to risk, it won't be incorrect to call it a synonym for this generation. Their urge to "switch-over" and change cos. paying better (especially in IT sector) has revolutionized the employee-employer (EmE-EmR) relationship. Earlier this EmE-EmR relation was of a giver-taker (of work done) as compared to present day's taker-giver (of money in lieu of the work done); thus monetization of work has prevailed the picturesque of today's working culture.
b. Technological- MS Office (Word, Excel, PPT) has transformed the complete modus-operandi of presenting and calculating or tabulating things as compared to Registers and Bahi-Khaatas. Mobiles from Nokia 1100 to Android (-kitkat-lolypop)-Windows (-XP-7-8-8.1-10)- Apple powered smartphones (no more mere phones).
These generations differ in utilization of the tech available for all- Gen. T and B being Tech-disabled/handicapped (Exceptions are there) and tech -savvy (gadget friendly-Mobiles, Lappy, Ipods, MP3 Players with headphones and speakers-BOSE to JBL and Bluetooth transferred from mobiles to ears) Gen. X & Y. This is just a matter of timing and adaptability (favoring the X,Y). Mostly, one may listen to the T & B asking X & Y to not get over-dependent on technology and ignoring the basics (which has taken a back foot). Face of Social networking has changed from visiting friends and families on weekends to Facebook or WhatsApp or Skype. Internet-Bane or boon is beyond discussion and out of question as the utilization of the same decides the category its placed.
Managing generation-gap isn't rocket-science (buzz word these days). In fact it is more of a social science. Compromise is inevitable. But with honest, open communication and strategic mechanisms that promote healthy exchanges, generation gap can be transformed to one generation aiding other to build a seamless and bilateral transfer of knowledge and leadership for the benefit of the society we live in.
The topic of this blog was in my mind since long time. Special Thanks to my mother and Sumana Sen to throw some light on this, enabling me finally to pen these thoughts and opinion I, Gen. Y (1990 born) have about my preceding (senior) generations-T (grandparents), B (parents) and X (uncles).
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