The largest diversity issue in North America is age.
/According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, the biggest diversity challenge organizations are facing is the reality that 5 generations currently occupy the same office space. No place is immune. You may be a nurse, a lawyer, a program director for a non-profit, a university professor, a CEO, or a parent. No matter where you are, this issue is real. There are times when all I have to do is mention a certain generation by name and people have a literal physical response. Their necks turn red. Their foreheads bead up with sweat. They are ready to tell stories that carry with them a lot of emotion. The changes our world has experienced over the past 20 years are significant and our world won’t be going back to the "way it used to be." So, how do we start to build bridges across the generations creating successful leadership transitions? How do we lead with innovation that can only come from a diverse group of people instead of getting stuck on biases and assumptions?
This blog is one part of my attempt to help make this road a little easier to walk. I’m hoping that each generation might feel understood, might be able to laugh at themselves, and maybe will even learn something new along the way. I am a firm believer that each generation has much to offer and I hope that together we can navigate a way forward to a better future. Here's to the Traditionalists, the Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z!