Generational Leadership
Nurse leaders have the opportunity to influence diverse groups of people. This activity is designed to challenge you to think about the opportunities that come with leading and managing a cross-generational workforce.
Members of the younger generation—those 18 to 35 years of age—have said that they want to be led, not managed.
Write a 175-word summary in which you answer the following questions:
****How do you think leadership would be different for a person who leads only people between 18 and 35 years of age compared with a person whose followers are mostly over the age of 40? ***
****What strategies would you recommend for a person who becomes the leader of a cross-generational group?****
ALSO
Post your summary and respond to at least one classmate's post (doc 2)
• How do you think leadership would be different for a person who leads only people between 18
and 35 years of age compared with a person whose followers are mostly over the age of 40?
o I think leadership approaches would be different in these two age groups. The underlying
expectations would be the same, the policies and procedures would be the same. However, the
way these expectations are executed would be different. The younger age group, I believe,
would need more encouragement, confidence building, and overall guidance. The older age
group would want a leader, someone who might tell them the expectations, and lead by
example. Sometimes I believe that the younger age group is looking for a more of a friendship in
their leaders and the older generation has a clear cut line between leader/manager and
friendship.
• What strategies would you recommend for a person who becomes the leader of a crossgenerational
group?
o While I believe that content, policy and procedures need to be consistent no matter the
generation, the leader should take into account that people learn differently and follow differently
at different ages. It could be very difficult for leaders to find that balance within their group.
Although difficult, a leader should be consistent regardless to age. Another aspect is the
perception. As much as people want to do the right thing, someone's always watching and
questioning. A leader should apply consistency to all followers, but may need to adjust the
delivery of content.