How generational stereotypes hold us back at work | Leah Georges

Translator: Ivana Korom Reviewer: Krystian Aparta

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: SF Huang

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

這是美國現代史上第一次，

we have five generations interacting at work.

有五個世代的人在職場上互動。

The veterans, born between 1922 and 1943,

1922 年到 1943 年間出生的老手，

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

即我們熟知的最偉大世代， 是成熟、沉默的一群人。

They're known for their self-sacrifice,

自我犧牲是他們的特色，

respect for authority and work as its own reward.

尊重權威並認為工作本身就是報酬。

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

緊接著是 1944 年到 1960 年在嬰兒潮世代出生的人。

This is a generation characterized by hard work.

這個世代的特色是辛勤工作。

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

事實上，就是因為這個世代 才出現了「工作狂」一詞。

They appreciate competition, they love effective communication.

他們珍惜競爭，熱愛有效的溝通。

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

他們不是已經退休就是正考慮退休。

Generation X is known as the lost generation

X 世代被認為是失落的一代，

the latchkey generation, born between 1961 and 1980.

鑰匙兒童世代，在 1961 年 到 1980 年間出生。

This is the smallest generation,

這是最小的一個世代，

sandwiched between boomers and the big millennials.

夾在嬰兒潮世代 和宏大的千禧世代之間，

More parents were divorced in this generation

和先前的世代相比， 這個世代有更多父母離婚。

than any generation prior.

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

他們也是第一個告訴我們 要取得工作和生活平衡的世代，

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

也是第一個在職場 要求這種平衡的世代。

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

接著，千禧世代── 諸位熟知的人人有獎世代──

born between 1981 and 2000.

生於 1981 年到 2000 年間，

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

從不知道家裡沒科技的世代。

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

他們非常務實、懷抱希望且很有決心，

They think they're going to change the world,

認為他們會改變世界，

事實上我相信他們會做到。

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

他們有時可能有點理想化，

They might be a little bit idealistic sometimes,

but in just the last several years,

但在過去幾年間，

we've seen millennials overtake Generation X

我們看到了千禧世代取代 X 世代，

to be the most represented generation in the workforce.

成為職場中最具代表性的世代。

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

事實上，在美國的勞動人口中，

有超過三分之一的人屬於千禧世代。

is a millennial.

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

很快接著加入我們的， 是 2000 年後出生的 Z 世代，

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

我們的高中實習生， 或是即將從高中畢業的學生。

Now, if you open any internet browser,

如果你現在打開任何網路瀏覽器， 去看亞馬遜網站，

look at Amazon,

search any of your favorite search engines,

用你最喜歡的搜尋引擎來搜尋，

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

你可能會以為在職場上 真的有戰爭發生，對吧？

We see blog topics like

會看到這種網誌標題：

"Seventeen reasons why millennials are the worst generation."

「十七個千禧世代是 最糟糕世代的理由。」

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

以及「為什麼嬰兒潮世代 搞砸了大家的一切。」

Or "Bridging the great generational divide."

或「彌補巨大的世代分裂。」

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

這就像是進入了《西城故事》，

like, boomers come in one door,

嬰兒潮世代從一扇門進來， 千禧世代從另一扇門進來大廳，

millennials come in another door, the lobby,

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

他們整天周而復始地 相互吵架、抱怨、回家，

再回來工作，對吧？

come back to work, right?

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

如果我告訴各位這些所謂的 世代可能並不存在呢？

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

我花了不少時間思考和研究這件事，

and fellow researchers and I aren't exactly sure

我和其他的研究夥伴不能十分肯定

that these generations are real.

這些世代是真實的。

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

事實上，就算我們認同 有這些族群的存在，

we certainly don't agree who belongs in them.

我們肯定還是不認同 誰應該屬於這些族群。

And they span something like 20 years.

這些世代跨越大約二十年。

So at whatever point in history,

所以，不管在歷史上的哪個時間點，

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

一個一歲的人和二十歲的人 都被認為具有相同的價值系統、

to want the same things at work,

在工作上追求同樣的東西、

to have the same stereotypes working for and against them.

都有符合或不符合他們的刻板印象。

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

事實上，世界上不同地區 也對這些世代有不同的定義。

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

所以我們甚至無法比較 世界各地不同的世代。

And these stereotypes about each generation

這些對各世代的刻板印象，

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

在許多面向都創造出了 自我暗示的結果，

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

大家開始做出 應該屬於那個世代的行為，

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

只因為我們大肆宣揚說 那個世代是真的。

I'm not so sure that it is.

我不太確定它是真的。

And in fact, this idea of generations

事實上，「世代」這個想法，

has become deeply embedded in United States culture.

已經深植在美國文化中。

When we talk generations,

當我們談論世代時，

people know exactly what we're talking about.

大家都知道我們講的是什麼。

In fact, people have a lot of thoughts and feelings

事實上，大家對於每個世代 都有很多見解和感受。

about each of these generations.

我怎麼會知道？

And I'll tell you how I know this.

I did the thing

我做的是每個熱血的美國人

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

和獲得終身職之前的學者 遇到問題時都會做的事。

when they have a question.

我用 Google 找資料。

I Googled some stuff.

And this is what I learned.

我的發現如下：

Google is based on algorithms,

Google 是以演算法為基礎，

and they provide you with commonly searched terms,

他們會提供你常用的搜尋關鍵字 或是建議的連結，

or suggested hits, based on what other people are searching

依據的是其他使用者 針對同樣主題所做的搜尋。

surrounding the same topic.

這讓我能夠了解大家 對於每一個世代的想法。

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

about each of these generations.

Take a look.

來看看吧。

I learned that baby boomers are conservative,

我發現嬰兒潮世代是保守的，

that Americans think they're stupid.

美國人認為他們很笨。

The worst generation, they're angry,

最糟糕的世代，他們很憤怒，

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

很顯然他們也是種族主義者， 且他們是如此地重要。

Looking at Generation X,

看看 X 世代，

I learned Generation X is a cynical group,

我發現 X 世代是憤世嫉俗的族群，

they're angry,

他們很憤怒，

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

他們是所謂失落的世代 我們知道這一點；

they're the smallest generation.

他們是最小的世代。

Apparently, they're stupid too.

很顯然，他們也很笨。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And mostly, they're frustrated with baby boomers.

而且通常對嬰兒潮世代感到灰心。

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

好，千禧世代，這是 我所發現關於我們的資訊。

So, we're obsessed with food.

我們很迷戀食物。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

We're also stupid, ah!

我們也很笨啊！

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

我們很懶惰、很敏感， 我們被開除了，

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

我們惹人反感，自認重要。

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

網路上最嚇人的搜尋結果可能是──

Generation Z is screwed.

Z 世代沒救了。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

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

好，所以，五年來，

我一直在和各種組織的 領導人和追隨者談話，

across a wide variety of organizations.

And this is what I've come to realize.

以下是我漸漸了解到的事實。

Generations haven't become part of the conversation --

世代並沒有變成對談的一部分──

generations have become the conversation at work.

世代已經變成了工作時的談話議題。

What I've learned

我發現我們運作在

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

假設 Google 搜尋結果為真的前提下。

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

所以，我認為組織目前非常迫切

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

想要找出如何「管理」 多世代共處的工作環境。

"Manage" it.

「管理」它。

We manage all sorts of things.

我們會管理各式各樣的東西。

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

我們做好準備， 等著這波千禧世代進入職場。

So we prepare for hurricanes, right?

我們會為颶風做準備，對吧？

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

我們會為醫學院入學考做準備， 我們會為天然災難做準備。

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

我們為什麼要為二十三歲的人 進入職場做準備？

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

I've talked to these organizations,

我和這些組織談過，

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

我聽過它們非常驚人的作為，

to create a workspace for everybody to get along

只為了要創造一個大家 都能和睦相處的工作環境，

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

大家能夠有自主權 且覺得自己有所成長。

But I've also heard some really incredibly harebrained ideas

但我也聽過一些關於如何處理好

about how to navigate the multigenerational workplace.

多世代共處職場的輕率點子。

準備好了嗎？

Are you ready?

This is what I saw.

以下是我所看到的。

I visited an organization,

我拜訪了一間組織，

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

他們採納一個想法：

如果看得到，就辦得到。

A really important concept.

一個很重要的觀念。

But I think they blew it.

但，我想他們搞砸了。

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

他們在牆上掛的照片

呈現多世代共處的理想工作環境，

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

因為如果看得到，就辦得到。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Or like this one.

或像這張照片。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

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

我根本不想在這裡工作。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

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

很顯然，你還不能 穿著五顏六色的衣服，

and HR seriously has problems with people jumping in heels,

且人資部門真的很不喜歡 他們穿著高跟鞋跳躍，

I promise you that, OK?

我跟各位打包票，好嗎？

I talked to an organization who recently decided

我也和另一間組織談過， 他們在近期決定

against putting a ball pit in the break room

反對在休息室裡面放置球池，

because that's how you retain millennials.

因為那是留住千禧世代的方式。

We're 30, not three.

我們是三十歲，不是三歲。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

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

事實上，當時我還認識一位 千禧世代的年輕人，

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

她被告知，如果想被當回事——

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

只因為她是千禧世代——

她就必須要做一件事：

wear shoulder pads.

用墊肩。

Yes.

沒錯。

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

比她年輕和比她年長的人 都不會把她當一回事，

unless she wore shoulder pads.

除非她有用墊肩。

Straight-out-of-the-80s,

直接來自八十年代， 在任何地方都買不到的墊肩。

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

This young woman had two graduate degrees.

這位年輕女子有兩個研究生學位。

This young woman was me.

這位年輕女子就是我。

And this is the best we came up with?

這就是我們能想出的最好辦法嗎？

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

如何好好處理多世代共處的 工作環境……是用墊肩？

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

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

我和僱用各種年齡工作者的 組織談過之後，

that employ a wide range of people of various ages.

學到的也是這些。

We are so much more similar than we are different.

我們的相似處遠比相異處要多。

And we're hearing this consistently.

我們常常聽到這些。

People want work that matters, they want flexibility,

大家想要做有意義的工作， 他們想要能靈活運用，

they want support, they want appreciation,

他們想要支持，想要被賞識， 想要更好的咖啡。

they want better coffee.

But none of these things are tied to a generation.

但這些都和世代無關。

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

當然，大家所想要的 會有些微的不同。

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

我們知道二十歲的人和六十歲的人， 回家之後會做不一樣的事。

They have different values.

他們有不同的價值觀。

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

至少，對工作以外的事情是如此。

But I think what's happened

但，我認為

is that this focus on generational cohorts,

太過聚焦於世代的族群、 這些不同的族群，

these groups of people,

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

已經讓我們忘了：人其實還是人。

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

若要知道他們的本質、 我們和什麼人共事，

we have to figure out how to better navigate

我們就得要想辦法更妥善處理 多世代共處的工作環境，

this multigenerational workplace

than ball pits.

而不是處置球池這麼簡單。

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

說我是理想化的千禧世代也罷， 但我認為我們可以做到。

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

我不認為這個想法也會窒礙難行。

What if we radically, simply, not easily,

如果我們能單純地，但不輕易地，

meet people where they are?

從根本上去了解每個人呢？

Individualize our approach.

將我們的方法個人化，

I've never met a generation.

我未曾認識某個世代。

I've had a lot of conversations

我與那些正好和某特定世代 產生共鳴的人們，

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

有很多的對談。

I know that 80-year-olds text message

我知道八十歲的人也會傳文字訊息，

and 23-year-olds crochet blankets.

二十三歲的人也會編織毛毯。

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

這些事都不符合他們 那個世代的刻板印象，對吧？

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

尼洛費爾 ‧ 梅尚， 她是創新的思想領袖。

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

她告訴我們，我們必須 認識每個人獨一無二的真我，

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

也就是，每個人在世上的獨特性，

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

是我們獨有的歷史、經歷 和希望所累積形成的。

But this requires flexibility and curiosity.

但這需要寬容和好奇心。

And what happens when we meet people in their onlyness,

如果我們了解到每個人 是獨一無二的個體，

only the spot in the world that they stand,

是世上絕無僅有的唯一，

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

我們就會了解到那位在工作時 總是表現「憤怒」的嬰兒潮世代，

is scared.

其實只是害怕了。

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

因為他從十六歲開始就天天工作，

and on a Monday, sooner than he can imagine,

在某個星期一， 來得比他想像得還早，

he'll never go to work again.

他將永遠無法再去工作。

He's got plans.

他有計畫。

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

要花上一週半的時間，

to do all the things on that retirement list.

才能把那張退休清單上的 所有事項都做完。

But then what?

但，接下來呢？

What if we give a little bit of grace

若我們對那位可能有點害怕的人 多一點通情達理，如何？

to the person that might be a little scared?

Or that Generation X-er

或是那位 X 世代的人，

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

他有四個停靠站、 三個孩子、兩隻手，

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

只是在試圖把車開好。

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

當然，也許她在工作上 是有一點冷漠。

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

也許她有一點獨立，也許她累壞了。

Or that millennial

或那位千禧世代的人，

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

在兩個月後要求加薪， 因為這是他們「應得」的？

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

也許是因為那個世代 在離開大學之後所背負的債務，

than any generation before them, coming out of college,

比先前的任何世代都還要多，

and they just need the money

他們真的需要錢

to keep going, to pay rent.

才能繼續走下去，付房租。

And suddenly, when you meet people in their onlyness,

突然間，當你把每個人 都視為獨一無二的個體，

that spot in the world only they stand,

世界上只有一個他們，

we're not talking about a generation anymore.

我們所談論的就不再是所謂的世代了。

We're talking about Jim or Jen or Candice.

我們在談的是吉姆、珍或是坎狄絲。

And so here's my challenge to us.

所以，以下是給我們的挑戰。

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

挑一個人，一個就好， 去探索他的獨特性。

And then learn.

接著，去了解、學習。 接著，在適當的時刻去教導。

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

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

想想有什麼是別人沒有， 只有這個人才能帶到工作上的？

因為那樣能讓工作更豐富。

because that's what makes work richer.

And then do it again.

接著，再做一次。

And do it again.

然後再做一次。

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

有一天，我們就不再是 和所謂的世代一起工作了。

We're working with people.

我們是和人一起工作。

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

所以要真正了解多世代職場的美好，

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

我想，我們只需要認識人們的真我。

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

那並不表示我們就得 和他們生活在一起。

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

但至少我們偶爾會發現一些美景。

And so I think there's just no need

所以我認為沒有必要

to argue about which generation is the most angry

去爭論哪個世代最憤怒，

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

最應得，或最迷戀食物。

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

我們都要上課、工作、回家，

a little bit tired and a little bit tattered sometimes.

有時有點累了，有點衣衫襤褸。

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

也許我們盡力謙遜地認識人們的真我，

how they show up that day,

他們那天看起來如何， 每個世代、每個人。

generation and all.

And in those moments

有些時候，

where it can feel a little bit like intergenerational warfare,

會感覺有點像是世代間的戰爭，

I think we can at least all agree

我想，至少我們都認同一件事，

that shoulder pads aren't the solution.

墊肩絕不是解決方案。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）