Generation X is starting to wonder about its future in business management.
What?, you say. Isn’t this the cohort poised to pull the levers of power out of the wrinkled, spotted hands of the Boomer Generation as its shuffles en masse into retirement?
Harvard Business blogger expert Tammy Erickson thinks X’ers are a generation caught in a frustrating middle ground. First, they fear that Boomers are thinking about delaying retirement, meaning fewer great jobs opening up for them. Erickson believes a bigger threat comes from another direction: Generation Y.
The funny thing is, Boomers and Gen X really don’t like each other, she says. “To many X’ers, Boomers have already taken up far too much physical space and mental mindshare, often with an air of decided superiority and self-pre-occupation, and for far too long.”
But Boomers and Gen Y are getting along swimmingly. So even if Boomers do retire to Social Security Land, they are increasingly considering turning over the Corporate Keys to those go-getter Ys. Stuck between Ys and Boomers, Xgen is caught in the middle of an unappetizing sandwich.
Is escape from Middle Management possible? Erickson offers up 3 strategies to help X’ers out of their predicament.
Hey Boomers! Are you plotting to keep Generation X out of the throne room?
