Derailment signs across generations: More in common than expected.

Abstract

With the interest of studying managerial ineffectiveness in organizations and in studying differences among Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials, this research examined whether managers in different generations showed different signs of derailment (e.g., problems with interpersonal relationships, difficulty leading a team, difficulty changing or adapting, failure to meet business objectives, and too narrow functional orientation). With such knowledge, managers can effectively deal with these problem areas to avoid possible career derailment. Data from 5,249 U.S. managers (n = 2,481 Baby Boomers; n = 2,480 Generation X; n = 288 Millennials) revealed that managers in older generations were more likely to show derailment signs than were managers in younger generations. Differences, however, were of small practical significance in nature. These results advance knowledge by showing that generations are more similar than they are different in workplace performance. The authors discuss the implications of...