Discussion one and two

Discussion: Interview—"A Box of Chocolate—You Never Know What You're Going to Get”

If you have seen the movie Forrest Gump, you are familiar with this title. It refers to the uncertainties of life and the surprises life often holds for us. This certainly holds true in the workforce. And yet, we often make assumptions about what is true and certain, particularly where people are concerned.

We often see stereotypes around age in the workforce. Many of us have likely felt discriminated against at some point because of our age, too old or too young. Think about how you have felt in the workplace.

Now, let's consider the leader role. As leaders, we are ethically bound to consider how we can effectively lead a generationally diverse workforce. By talking to different generations in the workforce, we are likely to see a variety of approaches to ethical challenges. If the very definition of work, and sometimes even ethics, differs among generations, consider how a leader ensures adherence to the highest ethical standards in an organization.

As we mentioned last week, it is important to talk with people who are not of your own generation to learn about generationally diverse perspectives. This week's interview allows you to do just that.

Interview someone from another "generation" about their experiences in the workplace. Ask the following questions at a minimum.

· Have there been activities or decisions made in the workplace that make this person feel left out? What were they?

· What ethical dilemma stands out most for this person in their workplace?

· How did they resolve it?

· Did they experience any resistance to their solution?

You should try to complete your interview early in the week to allow time to converse about generational differences.

Part I: Initial Post

In your initial post, share what you learned from this interview. Talk about how your generational experience has differed from that of your interviewee.

Part II: Interact with Classmates

Interact with your classmates. As you respond to one another, talk about similarities in experiences and differences that you see. Share what you have learned as a result of your interview and our discussions this week. How has this week's learning impacted how you would interact as a leader with someone from a different generation?