Traditions and norms are always changing, and it’s quite amazing how millennials have revolutionized everything- even the norms of organizational behaviour.
Focusing on changes in leadership, a lot of has changed over the years and this is to do with the changes of personality type throughout the generation. A quick summary of the generations with their personalities is as follows:
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The Elders (playing by the rules) |
Traditional values: belief in order, authority, discipline, Judeo-Christian moral code, Golden Rule (do to others as you would have others do unto you) |
|
Baby Boomers (spoiled, hedonistic) |
Consists of: Autonomous rebels (25%) Anxious communitarians (20%) Connected enthusiasts (14%) Disengaged Darwinists (41%) (except Darwinists) rejection of authority, skepticism regarding motives of big businesses & government, strong concern for environment, strong desire for equality in workplace & society |
|
Generation X |
Experience seeking, adaptability, concern with personal image among peers, thrill-seeking materialists (25%) – desire is money, materials, recognition, respect, admiration Aimless dependants (27%) – financial independence, security, stability |
| Millenials |
Also known as “Generation Y” “Echo Boomers” (1977~1997)
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We have come a long way as humans and I’m pretty proud of how the world has developed and grown. Looking at the table above, you can see a shift towards an autonomy orientated style of living. Thinking outside of the box really matters and if you manage to do this as a leader it can have major payoffs.
Recently, world-renowned leader Mark Zuckerburg made a bold move by announcing a tour across 30 states in America, trying new things and expanding his horizon. The reason a creative move like this works in contemporary leadership lies in a growing trend among millennials in the workplace: While the online community is a powerful connector, it doesn’t fully replace in-person connections. In other words, millennials see the online community as a primary connection point, not the sole connection point. Hence, committing to something real and genuine as Mark Zuckerburg has done breaks that barrier.
Article about Mark Zuckerburg’s plans: https://www-forbes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.forbes.com/sites/wesgay/2017/03/30/zuckerberg-tour-america-millennials/amp/
References
Langton, Nancy et al. Organizational Behaviour. 7th ed. Print.
Robbins, Stephen P. Organizational Behaviour. 1st ed. Pearson Education Limited, 2017. Print.
“What Mark Zuckerberg’s ‘Tour Across America’ Says About The Modern Workplace”. Forbes. N.p., 2017. Web. 31 Mar. 2017.