Generations in Workplace and Interpersonal Skills

This article discusses the differences in interpersonal skills from the four generations within the workplace and how to overcome them. It is addressed to employees, managers, and employers in any workplace.

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Running head: GENERATIONS IN WORKPLACE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Generations in Workplace and Interpersonal Skills
Institution
Name

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GENERATIONS IN WORKPLACE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Introduction
This piece of work will highlight the author’s main point of concern as well as the
audience being addressed in reference to the article given. In addition, it will identify differences
which have been brought up in the interpersonal skills from the four generations within the
workplace namely, Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers. Finally, it will
explain how the differences in the interpersonal skills can be overcome.
Kelly, Elizabeth, Bharat, and Jitendra, (2016) argue that there is a great and serious
challenge in the workplace as well as in management which is brought up by the different
generations that exist. Individuals in the different generations have differing values, ideas, ways
of communicating as well as ways of having things done. These differences affect almost all
operations and activities in the workplace including recruitment of employees, team-building,
adaptation to change, motivation, managing as well as maintenance and increment in
productivity level. These ideas have been dealt with through exploration, discussions, and
evaluation of different research and case studies which have been conducted in the United States
and other many countries in the world.
In this article, the author addresses employees, managers, and employers in any
workplace. Students who are learning about interpersonal skills in the workplace are also being
addressed where they are exposed to the different generations that exist, their influence in the
workplace as well as how to deal with the problems that arise. Generally, whether a person who
is already in the workplace or a prospective person who intends to have knowledge of
interpersonal skills in the workplace is being addressed in this article.

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GENERATIONS IN WORKPLACE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Baby Boomers is a generation that consists of individuals who were born between 1946
and 1964. These people tend to be loyal in their workplace. They are very committed and
dedicated in their workplace, in that, they cannot be separated from the workplace even when
they are carrying out their private life (DuBrin and Geerinck, 2015). They can be engaged in
work activities anytime regardless of whether it is working hours or not. Additionally, Baby
Boomers are fully engaged in making rules rather than following the rules; they are very
responsible and try their best to be like the person who is in authority. They, therefore, cannot be
found breaking the rules.
Generation X includes individuals whose birth date was between 1965 and 1980. This
generation is different from Baby Boomers in that they strike a balance between the workplace
and their private life. In addition, they are not as loyal as the Baby Boomers and they are not
impressed by figures of authority in that they do not like rules, so they can easily break them.
Moreover, they are more independent and see themselves as having the capabilities of marketing
their qualities successfully.
The Millennials are also known as Generation Y and involves people born between 1981
and 1994. Millennials put a lot of significance into their private life so much that they cannot
identify or define themselves using their workplace. There is, therefore, a big difference and
separation between their personal life and the workplace. They value the impact that they make
through active involvement in the community on issues or matters of their interest.
Generation Z is the future workers who are born after the year 2000. This generation
tends to use technology in communicating such as the use of mobile phones and emails. They

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GENERATIONS IN WORKPLACE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
tend to have large networks of people though they have less experience in the workplace (Turner,
2018).
According to Jaskiewicz, Combs, and Rau, (2015) the differences in the interpersonal
skills in the workplace can be overcome by ensuring respect and enhancing the feeling of being
respected, listening to each other, having mentorship programs, having effective communication,
ensuring a positive feedback is given and exchanging ideas.
Conclusion
It is significant that these generations are put on an equal basis of operating in the
workplace. Both employees and employers should respect each other and understand the
differences that the different people have in relation to their generation.

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GENERATIONS IN WORKPLACE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
References
DuBrin, A. J., & Geerinck, T. (2015). Human relations: Interpersonal, job-oriented skills.
Pearson.
Jaskiewicz, P., Combs, J. G., & Rau, S. B. (2015). Entrepreneurial legacy: Toward a theory of
how some family firms nurture transgenerational entrepreneurship. Journal of Business
Venturing, 30(1), 29-49.
Kelly, C., Elizabeth, F., Bharat, M., & Jitendra, M. (2016). Generation gaps: Changes in the
workplace due to differing generational values. Advances in Management, 9(5), 1.
Turner, H. (2018). Generation Z enters the workplace. HR Future, 2018(Mar 2018), 30-31.