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In the early 1990s, two authors set out to write a history book. Along the way, they discovered something no one else had seen before.

We normally look at history in a linear fashion and mostly within the limited scope of our lifetime. But when they, essentially, “stacked” every four generations, the pattern emerged. Like seasons, there were four distinct cycles in each. They followed the pattern of new life to maturity to a breaking down of order and, finally, to a crisis point. This then ushered in a new beginning, and the cycle repeated itself. Their book Generations, is a deeply fascinating read.

Not only did this pattern reveal itself in historical events, but it also revealed itself in the culture of each successive generation.

Boomers

In recent decades, you can see this in the shockwave that occurred when Boomers like me arrived upon the scene en masse. Let’s just say, we disrupted the culture of the very structured and well-ordered society built by the previous generation. We questioned the norms and challenged the status quo. We broke glass ceilings. And we may well have invented the term, “Think outside the box.”

Today’s shift in the workplace has Boomers in legacy leadership mode, with a new generation taking the active role of leadership. Yes, Gen-X has arrived upon the scene.

Gen-X

What are the hallmarks of these Gen-X leaders?

These are the individualistic nomadic free agents, cynical of establishment, and former and original latchkey kids. They are children of smaller families and the first of the children of divorce wave that started back in the 1970s. They are the sandwich generation, smaller than Boomers and Millennials, but in the place of taking care of both. Gen-Xers grew up having to be the adult in many situations, so they are used to it. They love freedom, and if they feel it is in jeopardy, their passion will emerge. They tend to be entrepreneurial minded and are the “we’ll figure it out” generation. They will lead through the challenges with this gift.

Millennials

Millennials, like Boomers, are a huge demographic. Coming of age, they are now the builders in the workplace and the parents of the next generation. Where Gen-Xers tend toward individualism, Millennials recognize the value of community and teamwork. You can see this in today’s business models, where collaboration prevails. Shared information, shared work, and shared responsibilities are the hallmark of this generation. This will serve them well as they build the next new phase of history.

Gen-Z

Gen-Zers have come of age in times of great change. Theirs has been the era of integrated technology, having grown up with the internet, cell phones, and social media as the norms of daily life. With events of great historical impact dotting their lifelines, they value stability and practicality. They are cautious and conscious of their surroundings and environment. And they are resilient.

Communication

As you can imagine, this generational shift and difference of culture impact communication.

It is both an opportunity and a challenge.

It is an opportunity in that, with so many generations in the workplace, it is a chance to increase leadership wisdom. It is an opportunity to reach out in each direction to get a broader range perspective.

It is a challenge in that each generation has its own unique style of communicating and sharing information and work. A Boomer may be more direct. A Gen-Xer may be more guarded. And a Millennial would be more collaborative. And a Gen-Zer would prefer concise communication via technology.

Understanding and respecting these differences is a start to developing better communication.

Strengths and Generations

How does your generation play into your strengths?

You are who you are. This is measurable via tools like the Maxwell DISC profile.

• If you are a “D”, you are going to be Direct.
• If you are an “I”, you are going to be an Influencer and Ideator.
• If you are an “S”, you will be a Systematic Team Player.
• And if you are a “C”, you will be Compliance and Precision Minded.

Now put yourself into different generations of history. How would you have responded, given your strengths?

You can see, for instance, how a D-wired person in the 1960s and 1970s would be even more driven to lead toward great accomplishments. An I-wired person would feel free to create new genres of music and art. An S-wired person would be the peacemaker. And a C-wired person could be on the engineering team who sent the astronauts to space.

Your strengths don’t change depending on your generation, but they can become enhanced.

Today’s Challenges

As a change of the leadership guard takes place, it can be disruptive. It is the nature of change. There can be criticism of other generations. But here’s the thing: every generation and each person with their strengths has a gift to bring to this point in history.

Today, D-wired leaders bring the ability to get things done. I-wired leaders bring new ideas and fresh perspectives. S-wired leaders bring order to chaos. And C-wired leaders bring innovation and efficiency.

All strengths are needed, and each generation plays an important role.

Boomers bring experience and the ability to overcome challenges. Gen-X brings the ability to figure out hard things and forge foundations for progress. And Millennials bring a spirit of collaboration and community. And Gen-Z brings a practical knowledge of technology, efficiency, and flexibility.

The key is to bring out your best for your time and to value the strengths and history of others.

In the spirit of our Millennial friends, let’s work together to do great things!

For valuable resources on Leadership Strengths and Tools, click here.

Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after executive coach, mentor, consultant, and speaker worldwide. Deb is well versed in business operations and in the importance of asking key questions most business leaders won’t ask themselves. She brings deep experience in leadership development, strategy, high performance team building and effective communication. She has a passion for leading people to discover and maximize their strengths as well as those of fellow team members, while offering advanced strategies to achieve high performance. Deb is the perfect fit if you’re ready to take your leadership and impact to the next level!