Generational Perspectives

Fostering Diversity: Leading Across the Ages

Boston, MA (USA), April 2009 - Harvard Business Publishing has released Leading Across the Ages: Reframing Generational Perspectives, an online course based on extensive research by Tamara Erickson, award-winning expert, author, and speaker on managing the generations in a changing workforce. European distributor for Learning Across the Ages is the Swiss Company bridge2think AG.




Leading Across the Ages enables managers to promote a more productive, collaborative, and innovative environment within a multigenerational workforce. Through expert insights from Erickson and interactive activities and scenarios, leaders will find practical techniques and strategies to help them understand different generational perspectives, reduce workplace tension arising from generational differences, and lead a diverse group more effectively.

"Research has identified differences between generations in the way they approach work, work-life balance, employee loyalty, authority, and other important issues that can make a difference in how they perceive the world", said Peter McAteer, managing director and vice president of Harvard Business Publishing's corporate learning division. "This course will equip leaders with the tools they need to create high-performing teams by helping them overcome common obstacles that come with managing cross-generational teams."

Leading Across the Ages examines the generational diversity that exists in today's organizations, from technology-savvy Gen Ys, to family-oriented Gen Xers, to Boomers whose professional experience includes weathering many business cycles. The course challenges managers to develop the necessary skills to address various perspectives, position ideas more persuasively, and create positive group norms that drive high performance.

The features in Leading Across the Ages support both self-directed learning and group-action learning. They include, for example, real workplace situations to experiment with and practice applying key course concepts. There are also Action Plans to guide users to identify on-the-job application opportunities to make a measurable impact and get results.