What’s Worse Than One Stereotype? Two – Friday Distraction
I’m beginning to see a shift in the conversation about Millennials. Instead of talking about generations from the standpoint of attitude or behaviors, the dialogue has moved to one of mindset. Frankly, it’s about time.
I’ll use Boomers as an example, since I am one. Well, I’m Generation Jones, but no one talks about that distinction. Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964. From a cultural standpoint, they remember the “Cold War” and the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. They also remember the Vietnam War as well as the first moon walk. IMHO, there might be qualities this group shares because of the events they’ve experienced together. Or maybe not.
Back to Millennials. Today’s Time Well Spent from our friends at Kronos points out the challenges of stereotype and labels. Not just the whole working with Millennials thing. But also the issue of body art.
I couldn’t resist sharing with you some statistics about tattoos. According to research, tattoos are a $1B+ industry in the U.S. About 3 in 10 Americans (29%) have at least one tattoo. Body art isn’t a Millennial thing. Yes, there are young people with tattoos. There are Boomers with tattoos too.
The rules of engagement don’t change with Millennials. Everyone wants open dialogue and authentic conversations. People want to feel like they have a voice and are being heard. It’s all about knowing your audience, not giving into a stereotype.
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