ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2006 > August > 22 > Entry
Young grasshoppers and old dogs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In today’s workplace, it is not uncommon to observe the proverbial young grasshopper given the job of teaching the old dog new tricks.
When and how did this come about?
With the Baby Boomers slowly exiting the workforce and Gen X and Yer’s dutifully marching in to fill the empty spaces, the probability of younger workers assuming positions of authority becomes considerably greater.
However, with the inherent differences in values and lifestyles between the generations, the workplace can become an unanticipated source of tension and anxiety, affecting your productivity and essentially the quality of your life.
Not too long ago, I met with a young man, recently graduated from a well-known university, who was noticeably stressed and unhappy in his new position.
It wasn’t that his job and pay weren’t good—quite the contrary—it was due to the unexpected surprise at having to manage workers who were often twice or even thrice his age. As a individual taught to respect his elders almost to a fault, this proved a most difficult task.
While his ambition and work ethic urged him to pursue a more efficient and perhaps, more immediately self-interested course of action, his upbringing and empathetic nature suggested otherwise.
His discomfort with the idea of sitting back with his feet up in an air-conditioned office while workers, roughly the age of his parents, manually implemented his efficiency plan layout for the warehouse in 100-degree weather, prompted him to roll up the sleeves of his dress shirt and move boxes with them.
Sure enough, not only did the old dogs slowly warm to him, he earned their respect and feels they may be open to learning some new tricks without biting.
The point is, with more and more young grasshoppers slowly hopping up the rungs of the corporate ladder, compromise and empathy become more important characteristics to exercise.
By establishing a level of trust, despite the fact that it does take valuable time and effort, you’re investing in a happier future not only for your coworkers, but for yourself. And a note to the old dogs: try not to play so rough with the young grasshoppers.
While smug and superior attitudes may tempt you to exhibit such behavior, remember that your empathy and experience could well be used to teach and improve these young minds of the corporate future.
Not only that, but here’s a small reminder that should keep your eyes on the big dog bone— they’ll be supporting you in your posh retirement.
Comments
By Stephanie
August 25, 2006 11:34 AM | Link to this
I think that empathy is a lot more difficult to come by in the work place these days— especially when there’s a lot of pride involved. I’ve been working at my job for almost a year now and lots of the older “veteran” workers are still very unwelcoming of any of my ideas. They think they know better which makes me question what the point of bringing in new workers is…
By Lars
August 29, 2006 01:55 PM | Link to this
I agree. I’ve often found that being nice in the work place just ends up in you getting walked all over. If the veterans could actually start opening up, it’d help us to be more communicative too.