Creativity is a skill that many organizations are looking for because organizations today need employees with new ideas and new attitudes to find the best way to meet the needs of driving the organization forward.
Another important big issue for organizations is people. How can we make people in the organization from different generations work together? And what methods can encourage them to work together well and creatively?
Generation Gap Generation Gap
Admin had the opportunity to listen to the Mahidol Channel Podcast, episode “ Breaking the Generation Barrier in the Office,” hosted by Ajarn Tae, Asst. Prof. Dr. Rapee Boonplieng, a lecturer in the Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, and a guest, Ajarn Pop, Asst. Prof. Dr. Supalak Khemthong, a lecturer in the Occupational Therapy Department, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University. We found that there were many interesting stories and perspectives, and we saw interesting methods that we can use to increase relationships and reduce the generation gap, as well as develop creativity in the workplace. Today, we took the opportunity to summarize it for all of you to read.
“The generation gap makes us feel like we speak different languages.”
When we enter a company, as long as we are not the owner of the company, please remember that we definitely cannot choose our co-workers. The working society is not different from the society we pass each other every day on the street. Everyone comes from all walks of life. Or some employees in our workplace may be the same age as our parents. Because of this age gap or age barrier, it causes problems, making many people not understand each other, not listen to each other’s opinions, lacking teamwork, lacking creativity in the workplace.
“People in society must have relationships with each other.”
Whether it is a family, a community of neighbors or even a community at work, everyone wants to live together happily. Happiness in living together is something that we all want to see and want to happen in society all along. But every society is made up of diversity, both in terms of thought, experience and the basis of each age range are different. At present, people in society are divided into the following generations:
- Baby Boomer Generation: 1956-1964, people will be around 64 years old and up. This age range is when people retire from work.
- Generation X: 1965-1980, approximately 40-70 years old, most of whom are currently working in senior positions.
- Generation Y: 1980-1995, aged 27-42 years, is the largest age group in society today. They are the type of people who ask questions, hesitate, doubt, and worry all the time.
- Generation Z: 1996-2011, will be between 8-24 years old, will come with mobile phones, technology that is smaller due to more development.
In fact, their age division comes with the culture of communication. For example, Gen Y comes with technology, computers, modernity, while Gen Z comes with mobile phones. Baby Boomers and Generation X are similar; they come with typewriters or TVs, etc. This difference influences the thoughts and attitudes of people in each generation.
“The Waiting Ability of People in the Analog Age”
Age and technological culture have a lot to do with patience. Some say that the analog generation, Baby Boomers and Generation X, have a longer wait time than Generation Y and Generation Z, who were born into the digital age. With technology comes impatience, high expectations, and a need to get things done right. This can sometimes lead to a lack of gentle communication. However, no matter what age group we are, we all have three needs:
- love
- relationship
- Tranquility
These 3 things are what is in the heart of all of us, no matter who we are? How old we are? If we communicate with these 3 things in mind all the time, it will make the communication successful, in the same language.
“Seniority or being older is not a factor in becoming a boss.”
As society changes, seniority or age may no longer be the thing that makes someone become a boss. In this era, we may have seen a situation where an employee has worked in this position for 15 years but could not become a boss, while another person has only been working for 3 years and has become a boss. What we need to do is manage our thoughts, but how do we do it?
If you are a Gen Xer, you don’t have to manage anything by nature. Because Gen Xers are the type of people who can work alone and don’t want to be anyone’s boss. They take great pride in working hard without being a boss. Their downside is that they are workaholics. They want to work a lot. But luckily, they still need some alone time. They crave a balance of work-life, relaxation and good health.
If you are Gen Z, since Gen X does not want to be a boss, the desire to be a boss or leader automatically falls to Gen Z. Everyone may be confused as to why they skipped over Gen Y. That is because Gen Y is an age group that is full of hesitation, anxiety, and doubt. They think, why should they be a boss? They are already busy with work. Gen Z therefore become people who watch others and try to improve themselves to become better leaders instead.
“When Gen Z is the boss but has older subordinates”
It is fortunate that Gen Z can adapt very quickly in the workplace. However, what they still lack are soft skills in terms of speaking and communication. They still don’t know how to speak, how to negotiate, how to negotiate. It is difficult and it would be an advantage if we are Gen Z who can communicate properly because in this era, Gen Z is highly sought after in the job market.
“For Gen Y, they need a boss to answer questions for them.”
Gen Y is the age group that likes to have a boss who controls and guides them because they are always curious and have questions. They want someone to help answer those questions. They want a pillar, someone who becomes their boss. Whether they will follow through or not is another matter. They also want a boss who can also be a coach because they need emotional support.
“For Gen Z, they believe that they will choose to be a leader based on what they are good at.”
Gen Z is the age group that loves justice. They believe that everyone has equal rights, which means that there will be no coaches, no bosses, no subordinates. Everyone can only become a boss in what they are good at. They are interested in people who inspire them and have life experiences. They will seek out Baby Boomers because they want to listen to and learn from Baby Boomers’ experiences.
Generational grouping is just to know which age group we are in?
Dividing by generation is like dividing each person into which group? Which nowadays is not popular to do because people in each age group have developed forward and blended together in a good way. So we change from Generation to Self instead as follows: Social , Emotion , and Learning, and Flow, which is positive psychology. When we are with everyone and have balance , think positively, and are in a good mood with people of all ages, it creates positive communication and empathy.
“Negative emotions are not something that can be forced to be negative.”
To get rid of negative emotions, we should let it be a natural thing. Some people may be irritated from home. When coming to work, feel that it is another home, a safe space, a place where there are only people we can trust. This is considered positive psychology, which we can find from people around us, accumulate life experiences, and positive feelings from working with people around us.
“If we know ourselves better, we will be able to bring good things from ourselves to others.”
80% of our Self-Esteem comes from our own thoughts. A very easy and interesting way to build Self-Esteem for yourself is to try writing down 10 of your strengths and advantages so that we know if they are correct or not. Can we do them often? Especially if they are advantages that we do often, we will write them faster. No matter how many we write, don’t forget to thank ourselves for doing this much. Tell yourself that you are very good.
Social activities are the glue that connects people to create relationships.
Every day we meet many different people with unique characteristics. Activities are one way that people can come together. They can help people understand each other, contribute to increasing good relationships, and also help increase creativity in society. Dr. Pop has recommended an activity that is suitable for building relationships and promoting creativity called MAGIC.
- Music might at least be a background music at work or a song together.
- A rt photography, art, dancing, hobbies
- G ame Playing sports games should be done frequently, except when there is a sports day held once a year. Play checkers, chess, etc.
- I dea is a free expression, a free and safe space.
- C raft Handicraft activities such as welcoming new students, which require flower arrangements, table arrangements, and traditional event organization. When we have handicrafts, our minds will be more delicately woven.
These 5 therapeutic activities are recognized as helping to build and enhance relationships, not just between people, but between people and work as well, and also increase creativity.
Summary
“Diversity is not something to be avoided, but something to be handled in the right way.”
In terms of the 3 things: Love, Relationship and Peace, MAGIC activities that include music, art, games, free expression and craft activities, and using the word SELF that includes society, emotions, learning and using positive psychology instead of dividing into different generations, these are very helpful in building and developing relationships when we have to work with someone to achieve maximum efficiency in our work.
Thank you for the information from [PODCAST] Well-Being | EP.4 – Breaking down the generational barrier in the office | Mahidol Channel
