Millennials and Conflict in the Workplace: Understand the Unique Traits of the Now Generation

Description

This book unravels the mysteries and confusion surrounding Millennials. They are now the largest group in the labor force and their presence redefines the workplace for many organizations. Many older workers, who struggle to understand Millennials, often define them by stereotypes rather than their actual attributes. The historical and social events that occurred when Millennials were growing up are reviewed, which can result in traits and values specific to this cohort. The research behind this book explores the conflict styles of Millennials compared to Generation Xers and Baby Boomers – the unique strategies they are likely to use to address conflict in the workplace. This book shares the results of interviews and focus groups providing first-hand accounts from Millennials and non-Millennials about their work interactions. And the results from approximately 11,000 test-takers of the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument provide fascinating findings about generational differences in conflict styles. Millennials grew up with technology at their fingertips and tend to avoid conflict and seek advice from their online support groups. The book will also dig into Millennials’ powerful use of social media and how they use it to further their causes. They have a strong desire to know what’s happening now and find it difficult to “turn off.” This book explores generational differences and finds an increase in unassertive styles in Millennial males. This work shares what Millennials want and value in a workplace and what employers can do to recruit and retain this valuable cohort. Millennials’ diversity, political and social engagement, and the implications for the broader society are explored. This research fills an important gap in the research on generational cohorts and conflict management and provides valuable information to scholars and practitioners alike. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Page Table of Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgments 1 The Millennial Majority What’s in a Name? The Sizable Millennial Cohort Millennials Enter the Workforce The Research The Questions 2 Meet the Millennials Who Are the Millennials? Understanding Generations in the United States Events That Shaped Millennials Helicopter Parents What We Know about Generational Differences 3 How Millennials Deal with Conflict Millennials in the Workplace: What We Hear from Employees Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument Data Dominant Conflict Styles of Millennials, Generation Xers, and Baby Boomers Changes over Time Same-Age Analysis: Millennials versus Generation Xers 4 Millennials Are Born to Scram: How to Keep Them Satisfied Get What I Want or Leave High Expectations Value-Added Work A Learning Environment Want to Know Why Tell Me How I’m Doing Do Millennials Really Like Working in Teams? Cut Me Some Slack Are Millennials Killing Industries? Millennials Want Flexibility Pandemic Spurs Change Are Millennials Driving the Great Resignation? 5 Gender and Conflict Styles Gender in the Workplace Male-to-Female Conflict Styles: Aggregated 13-Year Comparison Same-Gender Conflict Styles: Aggregated 13-Year Comparison Changes over Time Same-Age Gender Analysis: Millennials and Generation Xers What We Learned about Gender Differences 6 Support Networks: Millennials and Social Media Technological Skills Surpass Interpersonal Skills Online Support Group Social Media Use Memes and the Media The Medium Is the Massage Technology and Activism 7 A Higher Purpose: Social, Political, and Economic Issues What We Heard in Our Interviews and Focus Groups: Issues That Matter A Millennial-Led Future: Politics, Diversity, Inclusion, and Racial Justice Conflict between Rich and Poor 8 What We Learned about Millennials The Research: Interviews, Focus Groups, and Conflict Styles Analysis Consolidated Research Findings Politics, Diversity, and Social Media Use Final Thoughts Index