Mauro Guillén, Professor of Management and Vice Dean at Wharton School, discusses the shift away from traditional models of work and how societal changes are impacting careers and leadership. They explore the benefits of age diverse teams, the trend of reverse mentoring, and the importance of lifelong learning and alternative credentialing. The podcast challenges traditional approaches to education and workforce while emphasizing the importance of collaboration between different generations.
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Quick takeaways
Generational differences do not determine values and behaviors in the workplace, emphasizing the need for collaboration and support across generations.
Lifelong learning and adaptability are crucial in a rapidly changing world, with organizations encouraging remote learning and flexible arrangements.
Deep dives
Shift in Generational Perspectives and the Irrelevance of Generational Thinking
The relevance of thinking about people and work in the context of generations is diminishing, as there is a larger story emerging. Generational differences exist, but they do not determine individuals' values, attitudes, and behaviors in the workplace. The decline of the nuclear family, the sequential model of life, and increasing lifespans are important considerations in understanding societal changes and their impact on careers. The concept of 'perennials' highlights a social construct where individuals think and act beyond their age-defined stages and embrace a more flexible approach to learning, working, retiring, and resting. Lifelong learning and career reinvention are becoming the norm as people pursue multiple careers throughout their lives. The importance of health span, the period of time during which individuals remain healthy, is emphasized as lifespans increase. Age diversity in teams is seen as beneficial, as diverse teams tend to have higher productivity and creativity. Encouraging intergenerational learning, even within educational institutions, can foster collaboration and allow individuals to learn from each other's different perspectives. The traditional credentialing system is evolving, with alternative credentialing options and digital badging providing more flexible and modular learning opportunities outside of traditional degrees. While generational differences may exist, focusing on commonalities and collaboration between generations is more productive than fixating on differences.
Shift from Traditional Mindsets and the Importance of Lifelong Learning
Shifting from traditional mindsets is crucial as the world becomes more complex and interconnected. Lifelong learning is essential in an era of rapidly accumulating knowledge and rapidly changing jobs and careers. Lifelong learning should be embraced as a lifelong undertaking rather than something reserved for the younger years. People who adopt a mindset of lifelong learning do so out of anticipation of future challenges or out of curiosity to continue intellectual growth. A broader skill set and intellectual curiosity are valued in the workplace, as innovative breakthroughs often occur at the intersection of different fields of study. Organizations are encouraging lifelong learning by facilitating remote learning and flexible arrangements. The supply of education has expanded, making education more accessible and affordable. Accreditation, rankings, and information flow play crucial roles in guiding individuals toward quality learning programs. The ability to learn how to learn is increasingly valued in credential assessment, acknowledging that it is impossible to know everything and that ongoing learning is necessary in a rapidly evolving world.
Overemphasis on Generational Differences and the Call for Collaboration
The obsession with generational differences has hindered collaboration and disregarded the commonalities across generations. Looking for opportunities to collaborate and support each other is more beneficial than fixating on the differences between generations. Cultural variations do exist, but the book reveals that the described trends and changes transcend cultures and countries. Promoting collaboration between generations becomes essential due to the decrease in younger age cohorts entering the labor market. The workplace is evolving, and age discrimination should be replaced with a more inclusive and flexible approach to hiring and valuing individuals' contributions irrespective of age. The book challenges the notion of hierarchical intergenerational relationships and emphasizes the benefits of age diversity in teams, including increased productivity and creativity. Breaking away from generational categorization and fostering curiosity and collaboration can lead to growth and innovation.
Encouraging a Shift in Thinking and Embracing Lifelong Learning
Encouraging a mindset shift is important for individuals and organizations to adapt to the changing landscape of work and life stages. Embracing a lifelong learning mindset helps individuals anticipate future challenges and adapt, promotes intellectual curiosity, and recognizes the world's complexity. Institutions, including educational organizations, should rethink traditional boundaries and separate learning programs based on age. Age diverse teams and intergenerational learning opportunities are beneficial due to higher productivity and increased creativity. Accreditation, rankings, and informed decision-making can help individuals choose quality learning programs. Broadening the understanding of education as a lifelong undertaking and shifting away from traditional credentials can support continuous growth and adaptability in a rapidly changing world.
Mauro Guillén: The Perennials
Mauro Guillén is Professor of Management and Vice Dean at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. An expert on global market trends, he is a sought-after speaker and consultant. He combines his training as a sociologist at Yale and as a business economist in his native Spain to identify and quantify the most promising opportunities at the intersection of demographic, economic, and technological developments.
His online classes on Coursera and edX have attracted over 100,000 participants from around the world. He has won multiple teaching awards at Wharton, where his presentation on global market trends has become a permanent feature of over fifty executive education programs annually. His book on 2030: How Today’s Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape the Future of Everything was an instant Wall Street Journal bestseller and he's now the author of The Perennials: The Megatrends Creating a Postgenerational Society*.
Many of us grew up in a world where life was divided into three stages: school, work, and retirement. Traditional ways of thinking about credentialing and ways to transition in the workforce are also changing. In this conversation, Mauro and I explore what has changed and how we can shift our thinking and actions to stay relevant in a new world of work.
Key Points
The sequential model of life is no longer as relevant as it was a generation ago. Life span, health span, and technology are massively affecting how we think about generations.
It’s no longer a correct assumption that entry level positions are going to be only filled people in their twenties coming out of school.
Intergenerational learning is an opportunity that many institutions and organizations still miss. Embracing this will increasingly help us stay relevant.
Traditional credentials will still hold value, but it will be assessed in the context people's ability in learning how to learn.
Intergenerational differences are real, they do not necessarily result in different values, attitudes, and behaviors in the workplace. There is lots of heterogeneity that our stereotypes conceal.
Resources Mentioned
The Perennials: The Megatrends Creating a Postgenerational Society* by Mauro Guillén
Interview Notes
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Related Episodes
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Essentials of Adult Development, with Mindy Danna (episode 273)
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