Our MPC summer blog series for those staying at home: questions and topics that are currently on our minds. In our day-to-day work at the agency, we often come across topics that are discussed in very different ways at our company or in the companies. We want to share these topics with you and would love to hear your opinion on them. What about this?
Drawer closed, drawer open
The other day at a client meeting. He (HR manager, sporty, early 30s): “We have a generational problem. People over 50 are happy if they can use their smartphone; they’d prefer to carry the red folders back and forth.” – “What?” Some in the room (including the author of this article) clear their throats: “Hello? That doesn’t affect me right now, does it?” After all, media literacy has nothing to do with the year of birth, but with the willingness, interest and opportunities to engage with things. And perhaps a little with the support and openness of younger people.
Or recently at a strategy conference. She (a reflective consultant in her prime): “Young people don’t like to be tied to companies anymore, they want to remain free and flexible, they don’t need the security so much.” – “What?” The young working student speaks up: “Of course I want to be able to plan. And my friends and the fellow students I talk to think so too. It would be a terrible idea for me not to have security and reliability in my job.”
So does this mean that trend and future research is humbug? No, but even we professionals in HR and internal communication should not fall into stereotypical thinking based on trends and forecasts. Because then we run the risk of stigmatizing – and that is never good, regardless of whether it is about age, nationality or other components. Instead, we should focus on people, build bridges, facilitate dialog, be ambassadors, allay fears and ensure greater understanding by living our values.
Or what do you think? Write to us!
Copyright lead image: Linh Pham / Unsplash