Retiring the Generation Gap: How Employees Young and Old Can Find Common Ground (J-B CCL (Center for Creative Leadership)) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: early boomers, late boomers, learning soft skills, Early Xers, Late Xers, Organizational Level (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

‘…an intelligent and practical book, conscious of its academic credentials but written in a relaxed non-academic style.’ (Edge, May 2007)

Review

"Finally, a book that puts our cross-generational stereotypes to rest. Deal brings savvy observations and good data to the task of teaching us how to lead a multigenerational workforce effectively."
—Joan V. Gallos, professor of leadership, Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration, University of Missouri-Kansas City

"Helps leaders of different generations understand each other. Should be required reading for leaders who coach multigenerational teams!"
—Marshall Goldsmith, coauthor of The Leader of the Future 2 and What Got You Here Won't Get You There

"Reading Retiring the Generation Gap helped me understand my coworkers and my children. If you start it you'll be hooked—and helped."
—Ray E. Johnson, director of organizational development—global human resources, SC Johnson

"Using seven years of research that is clear and convincing, Jennifer Deal shows that many commonly held beliefs about generational differences are more myth than fact. Written in an accessible, easy-to-read style, Retiring the Generation Gap offers important insights to all who relate—in work and in life—to those from other generations."
—Russ S. Moxley, author, Leadership and Spirit

"This book takes the topic of generational differences in the workplace head-on. The author uses a solidly empirical, completely practical, and sometimes humorous approach to target—and often shoot holes in—the myths and stereotypes that exist in virtually all organizations. The insights will help any professional create a more collaborative and cohesive workplace. This is a must, not just for HR professionals but for anyone who works in a diverse environment."
—Jeff Harper, head of human resources, Worldwide Studios

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (December 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787985252
• ISBN-13: 978-0787985257
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #50,267 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not worth the time or money., April 21, 2008

By	A. Steussy (Wimberley, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Retiring the Generation Gap: How Employees Young and Old Can Find Common Ground (J-B CCL (Center for Creative Leadership))

Unless you are looking for statistics, this book does not add much to the working knowledge of the manager seeking advice regarding ways to effectively manage a multi-generational team. Because it came from CCL, I was doubly disappointed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Removed the gaps in understanding the generation gap, December 4, 2007

By	armchairinterviews.com (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Reviewed by Barbara L. Fielder

Subtitled: How employees young and old can find common ground

Every person who reads this book will discover something important about their own generation and other generations with whom they come in contact. You can count on this book to offer you two important areas on which to focus:

1. To discover what you can do to retire the generation gap, and

2. Why you should.

Students studying the generation gap or for managers who want to explore options that support improvements in cross generational relationships, this book offers practical information and solutions.

Each chapter contains the following:

--A description of the generational issues
--A description of the author's research on the issue (over 5,800 participants were surveyed from 2000 to 2005).
--The research expressed as a principle.
--The author's best take on how to apply the principle to make cross generational work life easier for the reader.

The author slices the generational demographics into smaller segments, differentiating the empirical data from other researchers that cover similar information and makes the data more relevant and specific.

The generations described in specific detail are:

--Silents born between 1925 -1945
--Early Boomers born between 1946-1954
--Late Boomers born between 1955-1963
--Early Xers born between 1964-1976
--Late Xers born between 1977-1986

You might conclude that the author is going to bore you with statistics. Not so. However, for those who prefer empirical data, there is ample research data to excite you. In addition, the book includes bibliographical references and index. No mistaking, this book is not a riveting page turner, yet the author writes in a conversational tone that makes the book readable.

This is an excellent subject matter book for readers who are focused on conducting their own research or for those satisfying their own curiosity about retiring the generation gap.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid tactics for conquering the generation gap at work, July 18, 2007

By	Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract.com" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This ambitious book, based on a seven-year survey of more than 3,200 employees, examines how different generations view the workplace. Author Jennifer Deal handles the difficult task of presenting, distilling and interpreting the data according to age group and worker status. Her use of applicable real-life scenarios is effective in helping managers implement these findings, but the presentation of research data makes for weighty reading. We recommend this book to managers who have problems with intergenerational tensions at work, though Deal concludes that the generation gap is overrated and employees of all ages desire many of the same things.