Often there are misunderstandings, arguments, and verbal abuse that lead to conflict between people from different generations. This can be understood with a simple example of conflict between parent and child with constant arguments and disagreements. The perspective and values of one generation may differ from that of another generation although they may be brought up in the same household. A generation group can be recognized by their location, age, birth year, and significant life experiences that shaped who they are now. A major life event, such as a war, a technical revolution, or a significant economic shift, can shape a whole generation.
These incidents shape that generation’s personality, values, and expectations. The generation gap refers to the disparity in viewpoints between younger and older generations, specifically between them. Each of these generations develops to embrace different work ideals and attitudes, which is the root of the generational gap. In particular, this generational cohort exhibits generational distinctions in behaviors, viewpoints, and beliefs.
As compared to boomers, that is, those who are the age of our grandparents, that grew up in a restricted and orthodox society, generation Z, the young adults have grown up with a more liberal and wider perspective. Some things like equality between men and women come naturally to Gen Z while boomer grandparents may not be so comfortable with women doing the same tasks as men. For example, women should be kept safe and not do heavy work as that is for men.
The previous generation like our parents and grandparents are very careful and not as much in touch with social causes as compared to the newer generations like millennials and generation Z. As these two newer generations we born into the internet age, they had more resources while growing up and therefore are extremely opinionated and liberal as they have access to learn about what is happening around the world. That is why there is often conflict between the older and newer generations as they view life from different perspectives.
There are many points of contention since the ideals and viewpoints of each generation frequently diverge from those of the older generations. We need go no further than an intergenerational family gathering to understand how naturally this occurrence occurs. Common sources of conflict and disagreement include preferred cuisine, mealtimes, forms of entertainment including TV shows and music, preferred clothing, and preferred behaviour. The preferences of different generations have an impact on many, if not most, of these differences. As a result, our earliest exposure to generational conflicts comes from family experiences. Generational conflicts are commonplace in the workplace, just as they are in the setting of families. The generational divide between Baby Boomers, who are approaching retirement, and newcomers like Generation Y or these millennials presents a variety of challenging situations as well as business prospects.
These changes include those for expansion, creation, and cooperation. For businesses with complementary skills, the “gap” itself should be helpful; nonetheless, it also creates several difficulties. An organization’s or company’s generational divide can affect managerial structures, employee productivity, and the success of accomplishing organizational goals. To establish a welcoming corporate climate and accomplish the company’s objectives, managers in organizations must manage employees from an intergenerational viewpoint by treating them with respect and according to the characteristics of their generation.
Empowering the people in the organization will have an impact on boosting organizational effectiveness, according to organizational behavior theory, a theory that explains the effects of individual, group, and their social behaviour in the organization. One of the most important issues facing the organization is generational conflict. Interactions with employees who belong to different generations create conflict in workplaces. Working with people from different generations helps increase variety inside the company. The conflict between generations has decreased trust, worsened distortion, and lowered output. Additionally, conflict has a detrimental effect on the company, notably in terms of performance and production, according to research.
Each generation believes their method is the right way and that the other generation is wrong, which is the psychology behind generational conflict. As each party tries to persuade the other that they are correct, this could result in a communication breakdown. Lack of shared interests, which makes it challenging for two individuals of different generations to interact, is a primary contributor to this communication gap. Both parties are headstrong about their opinion that increases the distance between those from different generations, they try to impose their perspective onto the other. Although, both may be right about their way of life, these gaps in communication and adamant behaviour will create discrepancies between two people. Parents may experience conflict with their teen children due to unmatched opinions and headstrong attitudes of both sides, personality clashes and different ethics about work as well as life can also result in such clashes.
A few ways in which such generation conflict can be resolved are by understanding the source of the conflict. Generational conflicts often have their root cause in misunderstanding. That is why it is important to hear both sides and understand where the both people are coming from. It is best if the misunderstanding can be cleared away quickly but if it persists due to deeper underlying issues then it should be communicated in person so that each side feels heard without being interrupted.
There are always two sides of coin and that is why it is so important to hear both sides to come to a mature and productive conclusion. We should also be open-minded and willing to compromise rather than being uptight about our views. Often, while discussing a conflict, there may not be a middle ground and one party may need to compromise to resolve the issue slightly. Finding a solution does not involve picking one option or another, it is about communicating together to find common ground that works for both the parties involved. Another method that helps is putting oneself in the other person’s shoes to understand where the other person is coming from empathetically.
To find a solution for generational conflict, it is important to understand each generation’s values, beliefs, and motivations. So that we can learn to communicate and connect in a way that fosters respect and understanding. It is also important to understand that we all have different perspectives and experiences shaping our identity. Therefore, it is essential to be open-minded and willing to compromise to find common ground.
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