Retiring the Generation Gap

Conventional stereotypes believe that the generation gap runs deep, creating insurmountable misunderstandings and conflicts among colleagues. How is it possible for employees from different generations to work together cooperatively and effectively? To find the answer, Jennifer J. Deal sifted through seven years of research from respondents of several generations. In Retiring the Generation Gap, the author asserts that people of all generations are not as different as we think. In fact, she believes all generations have similar needs, desires, and goals, making effective collaboration achievable. The generation gap comes about through misinterpretations, insecurities, and a desire for clout, not through fundamentally different values in different generations. The key to inter-generational cooperation is to understand how those similar needs, wishes, and values are understood and expressed in various generations.