The Advising Workplace: Generational Differences and Challenges

The American workplace today is unlike any other in history because for the first time it is made up of four distinct generations. The advising workplaces on today's college campuses mirror this generational diversity. Four generations and their different perceptions of work attitudes and values, management expectations, communication patterns, and even work hours and dress are addressed in this article. Also discussed are generational preferences for information giving, teaching styles, and advisor-training formats. Suggestions for how advisors and administrators can use this diversity to enrich collaboration between generations are offered. Acknowledging and incorporating the ideas, values, and perceptions that advisors from different generations bring to the advising workplace can have a positive impact on its climate, collegiality, and effectiveness.