A Note from Michelle: Vive la Similitude!
Horse country was calling and we answered. My mother, daughter, and I just returned from a road trip to Lexington, Kentucky. Before the trip, I imagined there might be differences of opinion regarding what to do when, or in our overall viewpoints and takeaways. After all, we were three generations traveling together in one car.
I sort of expected this because there’s been a lot of press over the past few years about generational conflict in the workplace (and beyond). We’ve been schooled on how workers in specific age groups can have vastly different approaches to everything from feedback to training structure.
However, it surprised me to see how similarly we three travelers looked at the world around us. (True, we’re related, but I’ve never known that to be a guarantee of smooth sailing for any family.) We were generally in sync with regard to what stops to make, what places to explore, what to eat, when and how to tackle the day ahead, and even what music to listen to.
That got me thinking . . . are we putting too much emphasis on differences?
Maybe I’m feeling this more acutely because of the current political vortex. We’d be sucked into a black hole of despair in no time if we took to heart everything politicians say about us being a people divided. I’m struck by the fact that we have more in common as Americans than we don’t. And certainly with regard to the things that truly matter. We care about our country; we believe in freedom; we want the best for our loved ones; and we set aside our differences to stand together in a crisis.
Isn’t it also true that as learners we have more similarities than not? Don’t we all basically want the same things with regard to training?
Whether you’re a Millennial, a Gen-Xer, or a Baby Boomer, you likely want these four things:
Training that’s personal and meaningful
Training that’s relevant to your work
Training that’s engaging
Training that sticks
Yes, we want to celebrate our differences as individuals. Vive la difference! But we should also take time to reflect on the things we have in common. Vive la similitude!
Michelle Kelly, CEO (Chief Enjoyment Officer)