Is My Generation Better Leaders Than Yours?
The debate that generations are different has been around since the BC times. Each generation has it own way of stating that the next generation of leaders are not up to par or very different to the generation of leaders today. I disagree, I think we need to be focused on the individuals personality not the generation to define a leader. Lets take a look at why.
“I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words. When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and respectful of others, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint."
HEISOD, greek poet, CA. 700 BC.
Today, we hear a lot that Millennials are entitled, materialistic, and even lazy but if we look back at what was said about Gen X, they were slackers and rebels without ambition and the Baby Boomers, well they were the ME generation. So what gives??
First, we need to look at the fact that "generation" is a social definition. If you look at the research there is no common definition of years/age so someone like myself, can be called a Gen X or a Millennial depending on the research. So I guess I could be entitled, materialistic and a rebel!
Second, what about the data? Currently, there are only 64 published articles on generation psychology that have research to back up the data but if you google generation articles there are over 500,000+. No one is in agreement of how to quantify a generation. There is age, gender, culture to look at. And if we use personality assessments to define generations at this point we only have 15 years of data when we need around 20-30 to truly get a better understanding (Hogan).
Third, what about cultures? Can we truly say that someone who is thirty years old raised in America is going to have the same values as someone raised in Asia? Probably not, so how can we put those two thirty year old's in the same generation of entitled and materialistic Millennials?
Now, I agree generations may be different in our technological uses but when it comes to measuring someone as a leader, I believe we should focus more on the personality than what generation they came from.
What do you think?
Meredith Wailes is the president of Bloom Leadership.
Her goal is to eliminate suffering in the workforce by creating exceptional value and growth for business and entrepreneurs.
For more information on how we achieve this please check out Bloom Leadership.
More of the Latest Insights
