Tell me your age and I’ll tell you what kind of boss you are

Every generation has a different style of leadership – that’s the conclusion from a new report by the Generational Talent Observatory and the European University of Madrid. Everyone is different, we know this, but it is important to also recognize how our social circumstances influence the way we understand power, hierarchy, personal relationships, and, of course, people management.

Baby Boomers led social change in Spain and now occupy senior work positions

The report is not just aimed at classifying these differences but also at highlighting what each generation has to offer. So, keeping in mind these are broad categories, let’s take a look at what the report found to be the leadership styles of each generation. 

They lived under Francisco Franco’s dictatorship and pushed for democracy in Spain. It’s no surprise then that their main difficulties are maintaining work-life balance (having been forced to work hard and not question anything) and effective communication – not just sending and receiving orders. On the upside, this generation has deeply rooted values and works well in teams.

The Baby Boomers led social change in Spain and now occupy senior work positions. People born in this period value organizational objectives and work hard to communicate these goals. They are also good at identifying development opportunities for their colleagues. Baby Boomers, however, have trouble maintaining work-life balance and understanding that a team’s enjoyment is fundamental to a job well done.

Generation X is known as the sandwich generation, or the bridge between important social and technological changes. They have grown up under a Spanish democracy, enjoy the advantages of Spain’s closer relationship with Europe and are the first to question authority in the workplace. As leaders, they are good at communicating values on a daily basis and at reaching their objectives. However, they struggle when it comes to teamwork and collaborative leadership – an issue criticized by Generation Y.  

This generation has grown up with technology at their fingertips. They are better prepared, understand the advantages of collaboration, and recognize and communicate with their colleagues more directly and quickly than older leaders. But their lackluster commitment to organization means they neglect company values and common objectives. This is compacted by their short-term view of work and willingness to change jobs.

Leaders need to understand and appreciate inter-generational diversity

As José Ortega y Gasset would say: “I am I and my circumstance.” Social circumstances shape us all. While each leader may have their own style, there is no doubt that generational differences play a role. That’s why companies are looking for a new leadership skill – the ability to understand and appreciate diversity, not just between genders, but also between generations. The more a leader can recognize these differences, the more they will be able to get out of their team, regardless of the workers’ age. This is also the first step to understanding what they can contribute and what their competitive advantages are. This is the only way to build stronger and more efficient companies and a society that has fairer work opportunities.

English version by Laura Rodríguez.