100 Great Business Ideas: From Leading Companies Around the World (100 Great Ideas)

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158 • 100 GREAT BUSINESS IDEAS


In practice


The value of age-sensitive management is that employees are more
motivated and customers are better served. The key is certainly
not to discriminate on the basis of age, but rather to be sensitive to
the attitudes of all your employees. What one group favors may not
encourage or motivate another group of people of a different age.


-^ Silent veterans tend to have the most traditional ideas of
interaction, favoring formal contact and face-to-face meetings.
They typically value recognition of their skills and abilities.



  • When managing baby boomers, clearly defi ne goals and break
    down the process into a series of individual targets. Place an
    emphasis on teamwork and motivational talks. Rewards should
    be public, with noticeable displays of recognition.

  • Allow Generation Xers slightly more freedom to achieve their
    targets: tell them what to do, but allow them to decide how to
    achieve the goal. Keep channels of communication open to
    allow ideas, opinions, and feedback to be discussed in a candid
    and honest way. Practical rewards, such as days off or monetary
    bonuses, are welcomed.
    -^ Generation Y should be given plenty of opportunities to build
    their skills and experience—view yourself as both an instructive
    guide and a boss. Find out their personal goals, and make
    broader company targets relevant to those individual goals.
    Communication should be informal and positive.

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