Work Structures and Generations

What will our children’s work ethic look like in the next decade? This was the topic during a book club meeting I attended recently. Each generation approaches their work differently. Boomers associate themselves with their titles and the industry they work in. Their parents associated themselves with a company. GenXers associate themselves with the type of project they’re working on. What is this up and coming generation going to associate themselves with?

I have one possible answer and it comes from looking at the predominant form of social interaction for each generation. Not just the interactions themselves, but the structures that support those interactions. For example, boomers work long hard hours to achieve results. It’s hard to develop friends outside of work or with people who don’t share similar issues. So social interactions are typically with people who share similar job titles and live on the same block. They join associations of like-minded people and select neighborhoods with people from their industry or with similar title levels. And boomer owners set up many company social events within their companies.

GenXers, on the other hand, don’t see the need to work so hard. They form groups to accomplish the work. They strive to develop their skills and learn new ones in order to continue providing value on the team. They are less concerned with how the projects will impact the company’s bottom line than with keeping themselves current and “plugged in” to what’s new and upcoming. Social interactions are based on complementary interests. Because their interest is the work itself, they aren’t limited by geography or to any one location. They have an ability to seamlessly become part of any team, anywhere, at any time. The structures that support their interests are fluid, and rely often on the internet.

This next generation, growing up in a world without walls, has had the opportunity to have social interactions around the world. They may only see an avatar to represent the person they’re interacting with. They not only live in a fluid world, they can become fluid, such as texting the location of their parties 10 minutes beforehand. I think this group has all the makings of associating themselves with social networks.