Hello everyone! I’m currently working on a book about generational differences in the workplace, which will be based on my Us Vs. Them presentation (watch a demo here if you haven’t seen it yet). Basically, my argument is that there are TWO generations in the workplace, not four. There’s Young People, and Old People. The goal of the book will be to simplify our overly complicated conversation about generational issues at work and create a framework simple enough for everyone to actually use – and it’ll be plenty entertaining along the way. But I need your help!
I’m asking for stories that I can include in the Us Vs. Them book. The stories need to be true, and if I end up using your stories then I’ll send you five signed copies of the book once it’s printed. You’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that you will forever be immortalized in the annals of history. Sweet!
If you’re interested, here are the kinds of stories I’m looking for (feel free to submit to more than one if you want):
A story about you getting frustrated with the way one of your significantly younger or less-experienced colleagues dresses, works, gets along with others, or anything else.
A story about you getting frustrated with the way one of your significantly older or more-experienced colleagues dresses, works, gets along with others, or anything else.
A story about you learning something surprising or useful from one of your younger or less-experienced coworkers.
A story about you learning something surprising or useful from one of your older or more-experienced coworkers.
A story about how difficult it is to try and manage four distinct generations in the workplace
A story from a Gen Xer about how you feel young with respect to certain things and old with respect to others
A story from a Baby Boomer about changing jobs frequently early in your career
A story from a Baby Boomer about how your loyalty to your company has declined over the years, and why that has happened
A story from anyone whose parents or grandparents worked at the same company for their entire career, and why they did so
A story from a young person whose parents or grandparents have recently (in the last 10 years) lost their jobs to the recession or layoffs, and how that has affected your attitude toward employers in general
Be as serious, funny, and creative as you want, and thanks SO MUCH for any help you can provide. And don’t worry about proper spelling or grammar or writing too much or too little or anything like that – I’ll be editing everything to fit into the book. It’s going to be an excellent book that will help tons of people become happier in their relationships with their colleagues, and you’re going to be a large part of the reason that ends up being true.
If I like your story, I’ll contact you to get a few more details (first name and last initial, industry you work in, etc.). You can email your stories to articles@jeffhavens.com or post it in the comments section of the blog.
I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Hi,
What about a sorry about a 29 year old who was laid off, feeling young at the time, and then gained employment at age 30, suddenly feeling quite old upon her return to the workforce?
Kathryn