How generational stereotypes hold us back at work | Leah Georges

Translator: Ivana Korom Reviewer: Krystian Aparta

翻译人员: Wanna Shi 校对人员: 功伟 邢

So, for the first time in America's modern history,

这是美国现代史上第一次，

we have five generations interacting at work.

工作环境中有五代人共存。

The veterans, born between 1922 and 1943,

出生于1922-1943年间的老兵一代，

are known as the Greatest Generation, the matures, the silents.

他们是最伟大的一代、 成熟的一代、沉默的一代。

They're known for their self-sacrifice,

他们牺牲自我、

respect for authority and work as its own reward.

尊重权威，以工作为荣。

The boomers came shortly after, born between 1944 and 1960.

随后的1944-1960年， 美国迎来了婴儿潮一代。

这一代人工作勤奋。

This is a generation characterized by hard work.

In fact, we can thank this generation for the term "workaholic."

实际上，出现“工作狂”这个词 还得感谢他们。

They appreciate competition, they love effective communication.

他们注重竞争， 喜欢有效沟通。

And they're thinking towards retirement, if they haven't retired already.

那些还没退休的人 则畅想着退休后的生活。

“X一代”也被称为 迷惘的一代、挂钥匙的一代，

Generation X is known as the lost generation

the latchkey generation, born between 1961 and 1980.

他们出生于1961-1980年间。

This is the smallest generation,

这一代人，人数最少，

sandwiched between boomers and the big millennials.

介于婴儿潮一代和 庞大的千禧一代之间。

More parents were divorced in this generation

这一代人的父母的离婚率

than any generation prior.

高于此前的任何一代。

They also were the first generation to tell us about work-life balance,

他们也是第一代跟我们谈论 要平衡工作与生活的人，

and the first to really ask for that in the workplace.

同时也是第一代真正在工作中 争取这种平衡的人。

And then millennials -- you know, the everybody-gets-a-ribbon generation --

“人人都披绶带”的千禧一代

born between 1981 and 2000.

出生于1981-2000年间。

Never knew a time where technology wasn't present in the home.

他们不知道科技走进千家万户之前 世界是什么样的。

They're incredibly pragmatic, they're hopeful and they're determined.

他们非常务实、 怀抱希望、决心强大。

They think they're going to change the world,

他们认为他们能改变世界，

事实上，我相信他们会去改变世界。

in fact, I believe they're going to do it.

They might be a little bit idealistic sometimes,

有时候，他们或许有点理想主义，

but in just the last several years,

但是就在前几年，

we've seen millennials overtake Generation X

我们看到千禧一代 超越了X一代，

to be the most represented generation in the workforce.

成为了工作中的主力军。

In fact, more than one in three people in the United States labor force

实际上，美国的劳动力， 每三个人中就有一个是

is a millennial.

千禧一代。

很快，又出现了Z一代， 即2000年后出生的人，

And soon to join us there, Generation Z, born since 2000,

our high school interns or soon to be high school graduates.

他们有些是高中实习生， 有些很快将成为毕业生。

Now, if you open any internet browser,

现在，你随便打开一个 网络浏览器，

look at Amazon,

看一下亚马逊，

search any of your favorite search engines,

打开你喜欢的任一个搜索引擎，

you might assume there's a literal war in the workplace, right?

你或许会想，工作场所中 有一场口水战正在上演，是吗？

We see blog topics like

我们就会看到 这样的博文话题：

"Seventeen reasons why millennials are the worst generation."

“17个理由说明为什么说 千禧一代是最糟糕的一代”、

And "Why baby boomers have ruined it for everybody."

“为什么说婴儿潮一代 毁了大家的一切”、

Or "Bridging the great generational divide."

或者“消除代际分歧”。

It's like turning into this "West Side Story,"

就像《西区故事》一样，

like, boomers come in one door,

就像婴儿潮一代从一扇门进来，

millennials come in another door, the lobby,

千禧一代从另一扇门进来，

they just fight with each other all day, complain, go home, do the same,

他们成天扭打、互相抱怨、 回家，相同的戏码反复上演，

再继续工作，是吧？

come back to work, right?

Well, so what if I told you these generations may not exist?

那如果我告诉你这几代人 或许都不存在，会怎么样？

I've been spending some time thinking about this and researching this,

我曾花了一些时间 来思考并研究这个问题，

and fellow researchers and I aren't exactly sure

而我和其他研究成员并不确定

that these generations are real.

这几代人真的存在。

And in fact, if we can agree that these groups even exist,

事实上，就算我们都认为 这几代人存在，

we certainly don't agree who belongs in them.

我们也不确定 谁属于哪一代人。

And they span something like 20 years.

一代大概是20年。

So at whatever point in history,

所以在历史长河中的 任何一个时间点，

a one-year-old and a 20-year-old are said to share the same value system,

一个1岁的孩子和一个20岁的大人 遵循相同的价值体系、

to want the same things at work,

在工作中想要一样的东西、

to have the same stereotypes working for and against them.

在工作环境中 面临相同的模式化观念，

And in fact, different areas of the world define these generations differently.

事实上，全球各地 对每一代人的界定不尽相同。

So we can't even compare generations across various areas of the world.

所以我们甚至无法比较 全球各地的每一代人。

And these stereotypes about each generation

这些关于每一代人的 模式化观念

have, in a lot of ways, created this self-fulfilling prophecy,

在很多方面创造了自证预言，

that people begin to act as if they're part of that generation

即人们的行为举止似乎开始说明 他们是那一代人的一份子，

because we've said out loud that generation is real.

因为我们明确地说了 那一代人真实存在。

I'm not so sure that it is.

我不敢苟同。

And in fact, this idea of generations

实际上， 这种一代人一代人的想法

has become deeply embedded in United States culture.

在美国文化中根深蒂固。

When we talk generations,

当我们谈论一代人的时候，

people know exactly what we're talking about.

对方知道我们谈论的是什么。

实际上，人们对每一代人

In fact, people have a lot of thoughts and feelings

都有很多的想法和感觉。

about each of these generations.

我来跟你们说说 我是怎么知道的。

And I'll tell you how I know this.

I did the thing

我做了一件

that every red-blooded American and pre-tenure academic does

每一个血气方刚的、 尚未获得终身职位的美籍学者

遇到问题时会做的事。

when they have a question.

我在谷歌上搜索了一些内容。

I Googled some stuff.

And this is what I learned.

这就是我搜索到的内容。

Google is based on algorithms,

谷歌是按照算法运行的，

and they provide you with commonly searched terms,

会显示常用搜索词条、

or suggested hits, based on what other people are searching

或者根据其他人就相同主题的搜索

surrounding the same topic.

出现的查询结果。

人们对每一代人是怎么看的呢？

And it gave me a really good sense of what people think

about each of these generations.

就此，谷歌真的让我 有了很好的认识。

Take a look.

一起看看吧。

I learned that baby boomers are conservative,

我了解到， 婴儿潮一代比较保守，

that Americans think they're stupid.

美国人觉得他们很傻。

The worst generation, they're angry,

他们是最糟糕的一代， 他们愤愤不平，

apparently they're racist and they're so important.

显然他们信奉种族主义， 但是他们非常重要。

Looking at Generation X,

接下来看看X一代，

I learned Generation X is a cynical group,

我了解到， X一代愤世嫉俗，

they're angry,

他们愤懑不平，

they're known as the lost generation -- we know this;

他们是迷惘的一代， 人尽皆知；

they're the smallest generation.

他们这一代规模最小、 人数最少。

Apparently, they're stupid too.

显然，他们也很傻。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

And mostly, they're frustrated with baby boomers.

在很大程度上， 他们对婴儿潮一代感到懊恼。

Alright, millennials, this is what I learned about us.

继续看，千禧一代， 这是对我自己这一代的认识：

So, we're obsessed with food.

我们沉迷于吃吃吃， 无法自拔。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

We're also stupid, ah!

还有，我们也很傻。

We're lazy, we're sensitive, we're fired,

我们很懒、敏感又玻璃心， 我们被开除、被解雇，

we're also hated, and we think we're important.

我们也遭人嫌遭人恨， 我们还认为自己很重要。

And perhaps the most terrifying search result on the internet --

或许网上搜到的 最糟糕的结果是——

Generation Z is screwed.

Z一代完蛋了。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

OK, so, for five years, I've been talking to leaders and followers

过去五年，我不断地与 各个组织机构的领导

across a wide variety of organizations.

及其追随者谈话。

And this is what I've come to realize.

我发现了，

Generations haven't become part of the conversation --

一代又一代的人 并没有成为我们的谈话内容，

generations have become the conversation at work.

但他们是 工作场合中的谈话内容。

What I've learned

我发现，

is that we're working under the assumption that those Google results are true.

我们正在假设上述谷歌搜索结果 为真命题的情境下工作。

And so, what I think is that organizations are now desperate

所以我认为， 各个组织机构目前特别想

to figure out how to "manage" the multigenerational workplace.

搞清楚要如何去“管理” 多代人的工作环境。

"Manage" it.

“管理”。

We manage all sorts of things.

我们什么都管。

We're preparing for this wave of millennials to come to work.

我们正在准备迎接 一大波千禧一代进入职场。

So we prepare for hurricanes, right?

我们会做好准备 防范飓风，是吗？

We prepare to take the MCAT, we prepare for natural disasters.

我们准备参加医学院入学考试， 我们做好准备，应对自然灾害。

Why are we preparing for 23-year-olds to come to work?

一群23岁的人即将进入职场， 为什么我们要做准备呢？

(Laughter)

（笑声）

I've talked to these organizations,

我与各个组织机构谈话，

and I've heard amazing things that they're doing

我听说了他们所做的惊人努力，

to create a workspace for everybody to get along

去打造人人都能 和谐相处的工作环境，

and to have autonomy and to feel like they're thriving.

打造自主权，让大家觉得 整个团队正在茁壮成长。

But I've also heard some really incredibly harebrained ideas

但是我也听说了 一些愚蠢至极的想法，

about how to navigate the multigenerational workplace.

关于管理多代人的工作环境。

Are you ready?

你们准备好了吗？

This is what I saw.

这就是我所看到的。

I visited an organization,

我参观了一个机构，

and they adopted this idea that if you can see it, you can be it.

他们就采用了这个想法， 即你能看到就能做到。

A really important concept.

一个非常重要的理念。

But I think they blew it.

但我们觉得他们没用对。

The put pictures on the walls of the ideal multigenerational workplace,

他们在墙上挂了很多图， 主题是理想的多代人工作环境，

because if you can see it, you can be it.

因为你能看到就能做到。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Or like this one.

或者像这个。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Like, I don't even want to work here.

我根本不想在这里工作！

(Laughter)

（笑声）

You don't get to wear color here, apparently,

显然，在这里你不能穿 鲜艳亮丽的服装，

and HR seriously has problems with people jumping in heels,

HR肯定对穿着高跟鞋 还蹦跶的人不满，

I promise you that, OK?

我打包票，好吧？

I talked to an organization who recently decided

我跟一个机构沟通， 他们最近做出了决定，

against putting a ball pit in the break room

反对在休息室里放置海洋球，

because that's how you retain millennials.

这是留住千禧一代的技俩。

We're 30, not three.

我们都30了，不是三岁小孩子。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

And in fact, I know a young, at the time, millennial,

实际上，我当时 还知道一位千禧一代，

who was told that if she wanted people to take her seriously,

有人告诉她， 如果想让别人把她当回事，

just because she was a millennial, she would have to do this --

就因为她是千禧一代， 她就得这么做——

wear shoulder pads.

——用肩垫。

Yes.

就是这样。

People younger than her and older than her wouldn't take her seriously

比她年长或比她年轻的人 不会把她当回事，

unless she wore shoulder pads.

除非她用肩垫。

Straight-out-of-the-80s,

就算是80年代

can't-even-buy-them-anywhere shoulder pads.

也买不到的那种肩垫。

This young woman had two graduate degrees.

这位年轻女性拥有 两个硕士学位。

This young woman was me.

这位年轻女性就是我。

And this is the best we came up with?

这就是我们能想到的 最好的解决方法吗？

How to navigate the multigenerational workplace ... is shoulder pads?

管理多代人的工作环境…… 要靠肩垫？

(Laughter)

（笑声）

So, this is also what I've learned talking to organizations

这是也我与各个组织机构 交谈的发现，

that employ a wide range of people of various ages.

这些组织结构里 有各个年龄层次的员工。

We are so much more similar than we are different.

我们的确有不同的一面， 但我们有更多相似的一面。

And we're hearing this consistently.

而且我们听到的也都是：

People want work that matters, they want flexibility,

人们想做真正有用的工作， 想要自由灵活，

they want support, they want appreciation,

想要获得支持， 想要被欣赏称赞，

they want better coffee.

想要更好喝的咖啡。

But none of these things are tied to a generation.

这些都不是只与 某一代人挂钩的东西。

Now, sure, we see small differences in what people want.

我们确实会发现 人们的追求有细微差别。

We know 20-year-olds and 60-year-olds go home and do different things.

我们知道，20岁的人和60岁的人 下班回家后所做的事情不一样。

They have different values.

他们有着不同的价值观。

At least when it comes to things happening outside of work.

至少对于工作以外的事情是如此。

But I think what's happened

但是我认为，

is that this focus on generational cohorts,

对一代人的关注，

对一代又一代人的关注，

these groups of people,

has created a space where we just forgot that people are people.

打造了这样一个环境—— 我们忘了大家都是人。

And to know who they really are, who we really work with,

为了知道他们到底是谁、 我们到底在和谁一起工作，

we have to figure out how to better navigate

我们得搞清楚如何更好地管理

this multigenerational workplace

这个多代人的工作环境。

than ball pits.

可要比管海洋球管得好啊！

你们可以说我是千禧一代中的 理想主义者，但我相信我们能做到。

Call me one of those idealist millennials, but I think we can get there.

And I don't think the idea is too terribly difficult.

而且我也不觉得 这个想法很难实现。

What if we radically, simply, not easily,

如果我们从根本上、 单纯地、而非简单地

meet people where they are?

去认识一个人，那会怎么样？

Individualize our approach.

因人而异。

I've never met a generation.

我从来不认识某一代人。

I've had a lot of conversations

有些人恰巧与特定的某一代人

with people who happened to identify with a specific generational cohort.

产生了共鸣， 我与他们进行过深入的交谈。

I know that 80-year-olds text message

我认识知道怎么发短信的耄耋老人，

and 23-year-olds crochet blankets.

也认识会织毯子的年轻人。

None of these things are stereotypical of that generation, right?

但是这些并不是 那一代人的典型特征，对吧？

Nilofer Merchant -- she's a thought leader in innovation --

Nilofer Merchant 是一位创新思想领袖，

she tells us we have to meet people in their onlyness,

她告诉大家，我们得去 认识人们的唯一性，

that is, that spot in the world where only we stand,

也就是我们在世界上的 唯一处境，

as a function of our unique history, our experiences and our hopes.

这是我们独特的历史、我们的经历、 我们的希望造就的结果。

But this requires flexibility and curiosity.

但这需要灵活应对、要有好奇心。

And what happens when we meet people in their onlyness,

当我们去认识人们的唯一性时，

去认识他们的处境时，

only the spot in the world that they stand,

we learn that that boomer who is just acting "angry" at work all the time

我们会明白，在职场中一直表现出 “愤愤不平”的婴儿潮一代的某个人

is scared.

其实内省充满恐惧。

Because he's worked every day since he was 16 years old,

因为他从16岁开始就每天工作，

and on a Monday, sooner than he can imagine,

而某个他还来不及 做好心理准备的周一，

he'll never go to work again.

他就不用再去上班了。

He's got plans.

他有自己的计划，

It's going to take like a week and a half

那就是花一周半的时间

把退休清单上的所有事情都做完。

to do all the things on that retirement list.

But then what?

但是，在那之后呢？

What if we give a little bit of grace

如果我们能给那个 心怀一丝恐惧的人

to the person that might be a little scared?

多一点的时间，会怎么样？

或者，X一代的某个人，

Or that Generation X-er

who has four drop-offs, three kids, two hands,

她辍学四次，有三个孩子， 只能通过自己的双手

and is just trying to keep the wheels on the bus.

努力给家人好的生活。

Sure, maybe she's a little aloof at work.

当然，她可能对工作 有些漠不关心，

Maybe she's a little independent, maybe she's exhausted.

她可能有点无依无靠， 她可能累坏了。

Or that millennial

又或者，千禧一代的某个人，

who asks for a raise after two months because they're "entitled?"

工作两个月后就要求加薪， 因为他觉得自己“值得拥有”？

Well, maybe it's because that generation has more debt

这可能是因为这一代人 在大学毕业后

than any generation before them, coming out of college,

比此前的任何一代人 有更多的债务，

and they just need the money

他们只是需要钱

to keep going, to pay rent.

来维持生活，付租金。

And suddenly, when you meet people in their onlyness,

突然，当你去认识人们的唯一性时，

that spot in the world only they stand,

当你去了解他们的唯一处境时，

we're not talking about a generation anymore.

那我们谈论的 就不是某一代人了，

We're talking about Jim or Jen or Candice.

我们谈论的是 张三、李四或王五。

And so here's my challenge to us.

我现在向大家发起挑战，

Pick a person, just one, and explore their onlyness.

选择一个人，就选一个， 然后去探索他的唯一性。

And then learn.

去了解。

And then in the moments where it's appropriate, teach.

在合适的时候去沟通，教育。

And figure out what they bring to work that no one else can bring to work,

去看看他们为工作带来了什么， 是其他人没有的，

因为这才是让工作 更丰富多彩的关键所在。

because that's what makes work richer.

And then do it again.

再寻找下一个目标。

And do it again.

再寻找下下个目标。

And then some day, we're not working with generations anymore.

某一天，我们就不再是 与某几代人一起工作了。

We're working with people.

我们是与具体的一群人一起工作。

And so to really understand the beauty of the multigenerational workplace,

所以要想真正了解 多代人工作环境的好处，

I think we just have to meet people where they are.

我觉得我们要去了解人们的处境，

And that doesn't require that we unpack and live there with them.

这不是要我们去跟他们住在一起，

But we might find, at least on occasion, it's a beautiful place to visit.

但是我们可能会，至少时不时地会发现， 这个地方很美好，值得一去。

And so I think there's just no need

所以我认为真的没有必要

to argue about which generation is the most angry

去争论哪一代人最愤愤不平，

or the most entitled or the most so obsessed with food.

哪一代人最自以为是， 或者哪一代人最爱吃吃吃。

We all come to the classroom, to work, back to our homes,

我们都要上学、工作、下班回家，

a little bit tired and a little bit tattered sometimes.

我们都会有点累， 有时会有几分不堪。

Maybe let's just do our best to humbly meet people where they are,

那就让我们尽可能 谦逊地认识他人吧，

how they show up that day,

认识他们的处境，

generation and all.

同一代人也好，其他代人也罢。

And in those moments

这样的话，

where it can feel a little bit like intergenerational warfare,

在代际间的斗争初露端倪时，

I think we can at least all agree

我想我们至少都赞同

用肩垫解决不了问题。

that shoulder pads aren't the solution.

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Thank you.

谢谢大家。

(Applause)

（掌声）