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What different generations look for in a leader:
Our research findings
Our recent research revealed some fascinating differences in what different people look for in their leaders.
While the top 2 qualities across all age groups were being supportive and communicating regularly, there were some key differences in how employees wanted that support to be shown.
Amongst the characteristics that employees over the age of 25 valued in leaders, were: being available, knowledgeable, organised and inspiring.
Although under 25s also wanted their leaders to be knowledgeable, being organised and inspiring did not hold the same sway. For them, it was more important for leaders to be empathetic, to be willing to get their hands dirty and to show their human side.
Our whitepaper explores reasons why these differences may arise – download it here to find out more.
This throws up some interesting questions for leaders
1. How are you adapting your leadership style to meet the needs of different employees?
“Situational leadership” suggests that leaders need to intentionally flex their style based on their team rather than defaulting to their personal preference.
This is no new concept, but perhaps leaders need also to think about how the needs of different employees may differ by age and career stage.
2. What feedback do you have that your style is meeting the needs of all employees, regardless of age?
Often feedback is gathered at a team or departmental level, but more granular feedback broken down by age can reveal generational differences that might otherwise be missed. How well do you know the needs of different aged employees in your organisation?
3. How comfortable are leaders in showing their human side?
Culturally there is a shift towards understanding leaders’ human side – with social media and podcasts such as The Diary of a CEO highlighting the struggles and challenges that go on behind the scenes of big success stories. But how comfortable are your leaders in showing more of their authentic self while still maintaining credibility and authority?
We help organisations answer these questions, so that leaders feel more equipped to manage a multigenerational workforce, and so employees of all ages feel engaged and valued. Contact us now at info@genpotential.com or download our whitepaper to learn more https://genpotential.com/contact-whitepaper/
