No One Belongs in a Box

When I was growing up there were only two generations as far as I was concerned: the younger generation and the older generation. That’s it. And this was not that long ago.

Now the latest research is indicating that we have up to nine generations in Canadian society today, including the newest generations of Net Gens and Wee Gens. This is shocking to me and I’m not that old!
I have a sister and two brothers and we had many friends and acquaintances while growing up. We were the younger generation. Then there were the “old fogies,” our parents and their friends and acquaintances. The line was distinct between them and us. This distinction was further enforced with the title, “Mr.” or “Ms.” Actually, the “Mrs.” title was well- used back then.

Today I have a 19-year-old son and lots of nieces and nephews. I still notice the generation gap that I grew up with, in addition to another subtler gap I feel as a parent with my son. I witness the generation above me, save everything because, “you never know when you’re going to need it.” Then I witness the generation below me “chuck out” stuff that they don’t want anymore, knowing full well that they can just buy it again if they need it.

I don’t fit in with either scenario. I’m the Queen of Purging–I am pleased to proclaim that I don’t hold onto stuff that no longer has a place with me. I usually don’t toss it, either. I find my “no longer required” a new home by donating to a good cause.

So now, with my way of thinking anyway, we have three generations: the saves, the chucks and the donates. But nine generations within our society today? I just can’t fathom it.

It could very well be that I need to select a different form of measurement. The ruler I’ve been using of “how do you handle stuff” might just be too limiting.

It is indeed true that the world is changing, and change is part of our evolutionary development. To make change easier, we develop systems and patterns to follow. One of our patterns is that of categorization–the process by which we put people into boxes for easier classification or to better manage. I don’t deny that sometimes it is easier to understand others when provided with perspective. The challenge, though, is that as we cluster our similarities in the interest of belonging to a category, we may downplay our unique qualities.

Let’s take another well-known form of categorization—horoscopes. If a person claims to be a Taurus, the immediate associated trait of that sign would be stubbornness. The trait of the Leo sign would be aggressiveness and that of the Scorpio is determination. While these traits may be accurate in some instances, they are merely generalities. And my concern with creating categories is that we may be too rigid in believing that every person born under the Leo sign is aggressive.

This argument follows with the five generations currently within the workplace. I think it may be good to understand some of the characteristics of each generation. What does concern me is the tendency of people to make those categories rigid and impermeable, ignoring the opportunity to discover those special characteristics unique to each person. Ironically, the more we discuss our differences, the more we discuss a new way to classify ourselves, the more individuals will augment their behaviour to fit within those new categories. By wanting to belong, what may result is a loss of our most unique qualities that do not fit within the new form of categorization.

So when you consider the new topic of intergenerational differences, let us embrace the notion that we are each a unique individual, living a life in common with many others. Let each person define who they are, not the box they are supposed to belong to.

In the meantime, I will continue to giggle when imagining a 70-year old “Wee Gen,” just as I smile when my 82-year old neighbour calls himself “Junior.”

Article originally published in Volume 10-1 of Your Workplace magazine