Unfairly Labeled

Unfairly Labeled

by Jessica Kriegel
Released February 2016
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781119220602

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Book description

A blueprint for managing people, not generations

Unfairly Labeled challenges the very concept of "generational differences" as an unfair generalization, and offers a roadmap to intergenerational understanding. While acknowledging that generational stereotypes exist, author Jessica Kriegel argues that they are wrong—and that it's unreasonable to assume that the millions of people born in the same 20-year time span are motivated by the same things, attracted to the same things, and should be dealt with in the same way. Kriegel's experience as Organizational Developer at Oracle puts her squarely in the talent strategy realm, where she works to optimize leadership development, team effectiveness, and organizational design. Drawing upon her experiences with workers of all ages and types, she shows how behaviors know no generational boundaries and how to work with people based on their talents, strengths, and weaknesses rather than simply slapping on a generational label and fitting them into an arbitrary slot.

There are 80 million Millenials in America, yet there are myriad books on "managing Millenials" and "working with Millenials" and "the problem with Millenials." This book shows that whether you're working with Millenials, Generation X, or Baby Boomers, age is not the issue—it's the interpersonal dynamics that matter most.

  • Examine the concept of "generational issues"
  • Explore the disparate reality of each 20-year generational span
  • Learn to understand and work effectively with other generations
  • Facilitate intergenerational understanding sessions

The human mind craves categorization, so the tendency to lump people together is natural. It may, however, be holding your organization back. The members of each generation have only one thing in common—their age—and even that varies by two whole decades. Why assume that they should all be managed the same way? Unfairly Labeled shows you a better way, and provides a roadmap to a more effective organizational strategy.

Table of contents

  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright
  3. Dedication
  4. Preface
    1. Part One: The Problem with Labeling Generations
    2. Part Two: Toolkit for Managers
    3. Part Three: Overcoming Generational Labels
  5. Introduction: Taking Issue with Generational Issues
    1. Generation Exercise
    2. Perception Is Reality
    3. How Labels Divide
  6. Part I: The Problem with Labeling Generations
    1. Chapter 1: Why We Stereotype
      1. The Brain Makes Categories
      2. Predictions into Convictions
      3. The Ladder of Inference
      4. In-Group, Out-Group Dynamics
    2. Chapter 2: Age versus Generation
      1. Age Discrimination
      2. Age versus Generation
      3. Hiding Age Discrimination Behind Generation Labels
      4. Summary
    3. Chapter 3: American Labels in a Global World
      1. Generation Stereotypes in Other Cultures
      2. Summary
    4. Chapter 4: When Are the Labels Useful?
      1. When a Label Is Useful: Marketing
      2. The Better Way
      3. Summary
  7. Part II: Toolkit for Managers
    1. Chapter 5: Employee Engagement
      1. The Stereotype
      2. Origins of the Stereotype
      3. The Truth about Motivating Millennials
      4. Overcoming the Stereotypes
      5. Summary
    2. Chapter 6: Performance Management
      1. The Stereotype
      2. The Truth about Managing Millennial Performance
      3. Overcoming the Stereotypes
      4. Summary
    3. Chapter 7: Collaborative Teamwork
      1. The Stereotype
      2. The Error in Stereotypes
      3. Overcoming the Stereotypes
      4. Summary
    4. Chapter 8: Recruiting
      1. The Stereotype
      2. The Origin of the Stereotype
      3. Overcoming the Stereotypes
      4. Summary
    5. Chapter 9: Technology
      1. The Stereotypes
      2. The Origins of the Stereotype
      3. Overcoming the Stereotypes
      4. Summary
  8. Part III: Overcoming Generational Labels
    1. Chapter 10: Roadmap to Changing Your Organization's Culture
      1. Be a Maven
      2. Six Steps to Change
      3. Summary
    2. Chapter 11: Case Study 1
      1. Background
      2. The Request
      3. Needs Assessment
      4. Survey Results
      5. Results
      6. Focus Groups
      7. Training Programs
      8. Return on Investment Analysis
      9. Conclusion
    3. Chapter 12: Case Study 2
      1. Background
      2. The Request
      3. Needs Assessment: Survey
      4. Learning Style Differences by Generation
      5. Learning Activity Preferences by Generation
      6. Optimizing the Learning Environment
      7. Practical Implications
  9. Resources: Case Study 2 Details
  10. References
  11. About the Author
  12. Index
  13. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Unfairly Labeled
  • Author(s): Jessica Kriegel
  • Release date: February 2016
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9781119220602