Generation X and Baby Boomers Various studies define generational differences. Reeves and Oh (2007) opine, “The theory that people born within an approximately 20-year time period share a common set of characteristics based on the historical experiences, economic and social conditions, technological advances, and other societal changes they have in common.” However, various authors argue differently on the age gap for each generation. Nevertheless, Figure 1 below illustrates the differences for each generation. Figure 1: Representation of Generations by Different Authors (Source: Reeves and Oh, 2007) Strengths of Generation X and Baby Boomers The management of different generations requires an understanding of the background of each. This includes but is not limited to the nurturing of these generations, their beliefs, their age differences, their economic power, and their adaptability. The Baby Boomers range between 55 years and 75 years. This is a generation born into intact families with an available mother. Given …show more content…
First, the nature of women communication is emotive as their main aim of communicating is to get something off their chest, and hence, require a listening ear. For instance, when a woman talks about her day, she expects the listener to understand her and offer emotional support. As a result, the women expect to be relieved from the sharing experience. On the other hand, a man listens to offer solutions. Thus, the men’s idea of problems and solutions in any communication differs from the woman’s expectation. For instance, a woman’s complaint about her boss is for venting purposes however, the man would want to offer solutions on how to handle the manager. Second, men and women differ in their style of communication, content, and structure. Often, men engage in sports and money conversations whereas women discuss feelings and