courageous thinking, because for someone who writes, speaking to a well-known
and esteemed writer whom you personally admire requires a great deal of bravery
- and a fair dose of chutzpah. Bernard is a prolific writer; his regular gig is as
a twice-weekly columnist with The Australian - and he is of course the author
of five best-selling books dealing with the mores, manners and many foibles of
Australian society and the workplace.
His research into what makes the different generations tick, both in their own
skins and in their interactions with others, is ground-breaking and insightful.
As a National Partner for KPMG Australia, heading up KPMG Demographics,
a division he founded, he is producing essential people-centric data at a level
unheard and undreamed of ten years ago.
My point is made, I think. It was time to put the big girl reporter pants on, and
courage the hell up.
I wanted to know what he felt the biggest challenges currently facing each of the
generations in the workplace are. How can they turn their fears around and act
courageously?
THE BIGGEST FEAR FOR ANYONE AND EVERYONE IS
IRRELEVANCE. THEY WANT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO
DO MEANINGFUL WORK, MAINTAIN ENGAGEMENT, AND
ULTIMATELY, BE REWARDED WITH THE APPROPRIATE
REMUNERATION. TO BECOME IRRELEVANT WIPES ALL OF THIS
AWAY, AND LEAVES US LACKING ANY DIRECTION.
His response was prompt and forthright.
‘The biggest fear for anyone and everyone is irrelevance. They want to have the
ability to do meaningful work, maintain engagement, and ultimately, be rewarded
with the appropriate remuneration. To become irrelevant wipes all of this away,
and leaves us lacking any direction.
In terms of challenges facing the generations individually, they can be summed
up by steps. For Gen Y, it’s a fear of Stepping Up. For the Xers, it’s being able to
Stay On The Step; and for the Boomers, it’s a fear of Stepping Back.’
GLOSS JUNE 2015
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