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The How-To Guide for Generations at Work: How Americans of Every Age View the Workplace, and How to Work Productively With Every Generation
For the first time in American history, four different generations are together in the workplace. Companies that want to stay competitive must have employees from different decades, and these workers must learn to get along.So how can one person reduce conflict and drive productivity across ages?That's the topic of this book. Take a look inside.About the The Efficient Professional books explain precisely how to increase your personal productivity at work. Instead of broad advice or general motivational content, the works in this series list the exact steps you should take to transform your career. They include scripts, checklists, and direct instructions. Learn more at www.efficientprofessional.comAbout the Robby Slaughter is a workflow and productivity expert. His consulting practice assists a wide variety of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, regional non-profits, small businesses, and individual entrepreneurs to help increase productivity, simplify workflow, and optimize business processes.
145 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 5, 2016
It's no secret that science and medicine have advanced to such a degree that humans are living longer than ever before. This also translates into people having longer careers, shorter or only half-retirements, if they go into retirement at all. This is also creating a unique characteristic of the modern day workforce: across the board, companies are now showing workplaces made up of employees representing four different generations. These generations include the "Silent Generation" (1925-1945),"Baby Boomers" (1946-1965), Gen Xers (1966-1980), and Millennials (1981-2000). All of these generations come with their own methods for getting work done and, if we're being honest, prejudices against other generations. This is where author Robby Slaughter comes in and offers tips, tricks and solutions for bringing everyone together to create a harmonious, productive workspace.
Slaughter is a productivity expert who runs a consulting firm that assists not only small businesses and non-profits but also Fortune 500 companies. He uses what he's observed over the years to address some of the common pitfalls employees from different generations tend to fall into, such as unhealthy competitiveness or other unhealthy behaviors, fear of aging, being laughed or mocked at, considered "out of the loop" when it comes to trends or pertinent job skills (these fears often being reflected in behaviors such as lying about age on resumes or hesitancy around modern technology). Slaughter offers some eye-opening examples of how humans in general tend to present themselves, compared to how they (maybe sometimes unfairly) perceive others. He also explains how it's only natural to have a certain amount of pride in the generation we were born into, and how our behavior in general is a representation of a culmination of things -- not only the influence of our particular generation as a group, but also our individual upbringings, our cultural heritage, past experiences, our personal belief system, our moral code or convictions we live by. He then takes all that and breaks down how employees can use the good parts of all that to their advantage, while dumping (or at least pulling back on, to start) the more negative, prejudice thinking.
There's a good deal of helpful food for thought in this little manual. For instance, Slaughter points out that seniority in the workplace, while generally touted, does not necessarily always translate to guaranteed competency in an employee. Likewise, a young employee should not automatically be written off as lazy or incompetent. Employees should simply be taken on an individual basis. There are slackers and go-getters in every age set! I also liked his definition of workplace productivity, how it's not just about the sheer amount of work getting done by a person, but the overall value the person brings to a company: Are they quick to offer support to others in hard times? Are they good teachers to less experienced co-workers? Do they answer questions with clear, succinct answers?
I also appreciated that Slaughter could have some fun with a topic that might initially come off as a little dry to the average reader. He uses the format of a Choose Your Own Adventure type story to teach readers how to successfully interact with co-workers from different generations. He explains that this tool, which he calls The Conversation Map, doesn't necessarily guarantee a home run interaction every time, but at the very least it will help give the reader the confidence and open-mindedness to get the ball rolling on productive discussions.
I think this manual would likely best serve employers / leaders of companies, but there are also beneficial tools and tricks from the employee perspective.
FTC Disclaimer: The author, Robby Slaughter, provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are entirely my own.
Slaughter is a productivity expert who runs a consulting firm that assists not only small businesses and non-profits but also Fortune 500 companies. He uses what he's observed over the years to address some of the common pitfalls employees from different generations tend to fall into, such as unhealthy competitiveness or other unhealthy behaviors, fear of aging, being laughed or mocked at, considered "out of the loop" when it comes to trends or pertinent job skills (these fears often being reflected in behaviors such as lying about age on resumes or hesitancy around modern technology). Slaughter offers some eye-opening examples of how humans in general tend to present themselves, compared to how they (maybe sometimes unfairly) perceive others. He also explains how it's only natural to have a certain amount of pride in the generation we were born into, and how our behavior in general is a representation of a culmination of things -- not only the influence of our particular generation as a group, but also our individual upbringings, our cultural heritage, past experiences, our personal belief system, our moral code or convictions we live by. He then takes all that and breaks down how employees can use the good parts of all that to their advantage, while dumping (or at least pulling back on, to start) the more negative, prejudice thinking.
There's a good deal of helpful food for thought in this little manual. For instance, Slaughter points out that seniority in the workplace, while generally touted, does not necessarily always translate to guaranteed competency in an employee. Likewise, a young employee should not automatically be written off as lazy or incompetent. Employees should simply be taken on an individual basis. There are slackers and go-getters in every age set! I also liked his definition of workplace productivity, how it's not just about the sheer amount of work getting done by a person, but the overall value the person brings to a company: Are they quick to offer support to others in hard times? Are they good teachers to less experienced co-workers? Do they answer questions with clear, succinct answers?
I also appreciated that Slaughter could have some fun with a topic that might initially come off as a little dry to the average reader. He uses the format of a Choose Your Own Adventure type story to teach readers how to successfully interact with co-workers from different generations. He explains that this tool, which he calls The Conversation Map, doesn't necessarily guarantee a home run interaction every time, but at the very least it will help give the reader the confidence and open-mindedness to get the ball rolling on productive discussions.
I think this manual would likely best serve employers / leaders of companies, but there are also beneficial tools and tricks from the employee perspective.
FTC Disclaimer: The author, Robby Slaughter, provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are entirely my own.
May 25, 2016
Ah, the business challenge of the day: how to handle different generations in the workplace. I am intimately familiar with this challenge: working at a community college bookstore, I am a millennial among other incoming millennials (both students and part time staff), yet my counterparts are one to two generations older than me. To top it off, I do not identify with all of the millennial trends, finding myself halfway between two diverse world views. This book seeks to help bridge the gap in understanding by clarifying how each generation looks at the workplace and how to not only connect, but work productively with each generation.
The author starts with the reality that there is a generation gap in the workplace. Therefore, this book serves not as a theoretical premise, but rather a practical guide to the concept. The author speaks on a personal level, using "you" throughout the book, which clearly eye the tone for this title - imagine a self-help book but for generational differences on a professional level. The author highlights an ideal environment, where age is a non-issue and people are rewarded based off their performance, not length of service or length of existence. He admits that this is not a common denominator for readers, however, and thus the reason for this book. This is where I have to stop sharing from the book, however, to not spoil it for you.
Should you read this book? From content alone, the question has an obvious response - do you interact with anyone of a different age ever in life? That's your answer. If you live under a rock and are in solitude for all of eternity, there is nothing for you to learn. But if you are reading this review, then that is not the case. So, then, the only question is if you like the author's style. The author writes with a pragmatic yet seasoned approach - not like a car salesman, but rather like a guru on the television, writing with a prose much like the preaching of Joel Osteen - inspiring, uplifting, encouraging, and moving forward.
Disclosure: I have received a reviewer copy and/or payment in exchange for an honest review of the product mentioned in this post.
The author starts with the reality that there is a generation gap in the workplace. Therefore, this book serves not as a theoretical premise, but rather a practical guide to the concept. The author speaks on a personal level, using "you" throughout the book, which clearly eye the tone for this title - imagine a self-help book but for generational differences on a professional level. The author highlights an ideal environment, where age is a non-issue and people are rewarded based off their performance, not length of service or length of existence. He admits that this is not a common denominator for readers, however, and thus the reason for this book. This is where I have to stop sharing from the book, however, to not spoil it for you.
Should you read this book? From content alone, the question has an obvious response - do you interact with anyone of a different age ever in life? That's your answer. If you live under a rock and are in solitude for all of eternity, there is nothing for you to learn. But if you are reading this review, then that is not the case. So, then, the only question is if you like the author's style. The author writes with a pragmatic yet seasoned approach - not like a car salesman, but rather like a guru on the television, writing with a prose much like the preaching of Joel Osteen - inspiring, uplifting, encouraging, and moving forward.
Disclosure: I have received a reviewer copy and/or payment in exchange for an honest review of the product mentioned in this post.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2017
I was requested to make an honest review of this book.
I have to admit this book was quite a surprise. It felt like a -good- snack (its only 84 pages) and I surely want to dig deeper on the subject later on.
The main subject of the book revolves around one fact: today, we have almost 5 generations at work simultaneously. The silent generation, the baby boomers, the x gen and finally, the millennials.
Each generation was brought up in a different environment, context and reality. That means we all have core differences wired to our brains. It all reflects and activates when we have meetings, projects, challenges and interactions.
Those differences were a huge eye opener to me. I’m a millennial (from 1981 until 2000) and even though I can perceive the “gaps” between all the generations, its the first time I see an explanation and i can understand the “why’s” which matters a lot when working with different people.
Now, the book moves fast after that introduction and proposes 3 frameworks to cope with this differences: one of them is the technology rubric and the other one was the conversational map.
I will not explain them, but I can tell you they were crystal clear after a really good example applied to a company that was introducing a new and young CEO after a long tenure with a senior manager leading operations.
I like this books, they are short and move straight to the point; so if you enjoyed it, you can move further ahead and get a bigger and deeper text. I finished it in 2 hours and I definitely anted to read some more on the subject.
I have to admit this book was quite a surprise. It felt like a -good- snack (its only 84 pages) and I surely want to dig deeper on the subject later on.
The main subject of the book revolves around one fact: today, we have almost 5 generations at work simultaneously. The silent generation, the baby boomers, the x gen and finally, the millennials.
Each generation was brought up in a different environment, context and reality. That means we all have core differences wired to our brains. It all reflects and activates when we have meetings, projects, challenges and interactions.
Those differences were a huge eye opener to me. I’m a millennial (from 1981 until 2000) and even though I can perceive the “gaps” between all the generations, its the first time I see an explanation and i can understand the “why’s” which matters a lot when working with different people.
Now, the book moves fast after that introduction and proposes 3 frameworks to cope with this differences: one of them is the technology rubric and the other one was the conversational map.
I will not explain them, but I can tell you they were crystal clear after a really good example applied to a company that was introducing a new and young CEO after a long tenure with a senior manager leading operations.
I like this books, they are short and move straight to the point; so if you enjoyed it, you can move further ahead and get a bigger and deeper text. I finished it in 2 hours and I definitely anted to read some more on the subject.
December 21, 2016
This is one of the most unique times in the work force. Never have so many generations coexisted in the workforce operating in various roles and levels. This anomaly can probably be attributed to the meteoric rise of technology and the sheer size of today’s workforce. Being able to lead, manage, and collaborate within generational differences is a must.
In his work, Robby Slaughter takes the reader through the face of the modern workforce, practical changes, and a few examples.
There was nothing groundbreaking in this work. All the information was adequate but there were some small, perhaps insignificant things that hindered my appreciation for the work. The physical arrangement of the book was odd and distracting, but I had a paperback copy; an e-book version may be easier.
Though the author mentions all his sources, I wish there was a list of references at the end of each chapter. Not only do I think this is best practice, I think it is helpful to the reader. For example, there was a mention of some national labor statistics, I am confident I could find those numbers online but seeing the reference or an address to the actual report would be beneficial.
Though the information is adequate, I don’t see myself using this book in the future.
In his work, Robby Slaughter takes the reader through the face of the modern workforce, practical changes, and a few examples.
There was nothing groundbreaking in this work. All the information was adequate but there were some small, perhaps insignificant things that hindered my appreciation for the work. The physical arrangement of the book was odd and distracting, but I had a paperback copy; an e-book version may be easier.
Though the author mentions all his sources, I wish there was a list of references at the end of each chapter. Not only do I think this is best practice, I think it is helpful to the reader. For example, there was a mention of some national labor statistics, I am confident I could find those numbers online but seeing the reference or an address to the actual report would be beneficial.
Though the information is adequate, I don’t see myself using this book in the future.
May 8, 2016
[Note, this book was provided to me by the author; with no prior relationship or requirement]
"The How-To Guide for Generations at Work" provides a clear and concise analysis of the generations and how they interact at work. The quick and easy book provides insight into managing interactions across generations, and being prepared to "think about how other cohorts may view you and your role".
The book outlines 3 simple techniques from the "Technology Rubic, The Conversation Map, and The Workflow Distributor" to help articulate clear guides to engage across and within generations.
Part III provides a number of case-studies which provides the reader with practical used of the techniques outlined in the book.
Overall, this book provides a clear and concise view of how to "gain understanding of how other cohorts view work to improve inter-generational relations", and one that was pleasantly easy to read.
"The How-To Guide for Generations at Work" provides a clear and concise analysis of the generations and how they interact at work. The quick and easy book provides insight into managing interactions across generations, and being prepared to "think about how other cohorts may view you and your role".
The book outlines 3 simple techniques from the "Technology Rubic, The Conversation Map, and The Workflow Distributor" to help articulate clear guides to engage across and within generations.
Part III provides a number of case-studies which provides the reader with practical used of the techniques outlined in the book.
Overall, this book provides a clear and concise view of how to "gain understanding of how other cohorts view work to improve inter-generational relations", and one that was pleasantly easy to read.
August 17, 2016
Great read. Love the workflow which is a how-to on handling the different generations. Its the type of manual that I think anyone who works in a multi-generational workforce really needs!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews