Fixable Generational differences are vastly exaggerated | from WorkLife with Adam Grant
Jul 21, 2025
Nicole Smith, a seasoned journalist with management experience in a newsroom, joins Jennifer Deal, a leading expert on generational shifts, to explore the fiction behind workplace generational divides. They challenge the myths of age stereotypes, arguing that shared motivations unite employees more than differences divide them. The conversation reveals strategies for bridging gaps across age groups and emphasizes the importance of collaboration and respect to foster a healthier work environment.
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Invisible Generational Barrier
- Nicole Smith observed a clear generational divide in her newsroom between older print journalists and younger digital journalists.
- She noted an invisible barrier where veteran journalists wouldn't collaborate with younger ones, embodying workplace ageism.
Stereotypes Recycle Through Generations
- Generational stereotypes recycle every few decades, with each generation criticizing the next as entitled or disloyal.
- This illusion of moral decline masks the fact that complaints about younger people remain mostly unchanged over time.
Misplaced Comparisons Fuel Stereotypes
- People stereotype younger generations by comparing them to their current self, not their own younger self.
- The perception of disloyalty in young workers is consistent over time, debunking myths of past loyalty.