Drop The Stereotypes!

Could your organization be giving into certain stereotypes?

There are a limitless amount of companies out there seeking to cater to certain generations.

From Millennials, Gen Z, to Gen X, organizations across the board are trying to understand how to build a culture that attracts (and keeps) people from certain generations.

A noble pursuit, sure.

I see no issue whatsoever with organizations attempting to build a suitable culture for their employees. In fact, I readily encourage it.

However, I challenge the premise, that building a company geared toward any particular age group is even doable—effectively at least.

Why?

Well, for starts, each generation is made up of individuals. For a company to create a culture specifically designed for a certain generation can only be done by following a set of general rules. And, these rules are often built on stereotypes and hold little to no actual weight in the real world.

Every generation is made up of unique people who have their own set of values, beliefs, attitudes, and upbringings. And, no single set of generalized rules can encompass the vast array of people from any generation.

As I mentioned before, building a strong company culture is noble, admirable, and recommended. Any organization that seriously wants to consider the values and needs of its people deserves a round of applause!

So, what should an organization be doing instead?

Build a culture that people want to be a part of.

Rather than following some arbitrary guideline to cater to a specific generation, create a positive culture based on what you know about your industry and company. Your organization will automatically attract the right fits.

You’ll find the right people for your organization, regardless of any particular generation that they belong to. And that’s how the best organizations attract, keep, and develop their people!