HOW DEEP ARE INTER-GENERATIONAL RESENTMENTS?

An ABA Journal online article (8/27/10) on how Gen X can bridge the gap and bring work-life balance to work unleashed a torrent of anger among three generations with accusations hurled back and forth in the Comments posted. The comments hardly even touched on the original subject of the article. In the attempt to express some rationality from a cooler head, here is what I posted:

If the anger in these comments is any indication of the generational divides in law firms and other organizations of lawyers, the profession is in big trouble. It seems the role of adversarial advocate has taken hold, and a lot of dialogue and conflict resolution is needed to not only settle the case but also build a strong foundation for multi-generational teams to enable continuing success for the long-term. If angry lawyers hold the same views about clients of another generation as they do of their other-generation colleagues, they will never be able to serve them well or retain client relationships.

For the most part, only the Traditionalists received any favorable comments from the Xer generation. Representatives of the other three generations hurled invective at each other. If this is all we knew of life in law firms, as both co-workers and clients we would waste no time in turning and running.

Perhaps it’s largely the strain of the terrible economy and either not having enough to do or being overworked as a survivor of lay-offs. In any case, it this outburst has brought such strong feelings to the surface, firms and other organizations need to address generational differences and conflicts ASAP if they expect to retain clients of various generations and serve them with high performing multi-generational teams.

Phyllis Weiss Haserot www.pdcounsel.com   

Comments

[William J. McBurney, Jr.]

I am going to "Meet the Clubs" at the Cornell Club tonight and expect to mix with a wide range of generations in one room for two hours; I will watch for any signs of resentments and report back.

[Phyllis Weiss Haserot]


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I dont think you will observe overt resentments at
the Club.

There is a lot of stress and hostility among
lawyers, especially in the larger firms now and especially from GenX and
Gen Y. But I dont think the comments on the ABA Journal blog represent the
majority,from all the work I have done with firms and the profession. Some
people have a lot of anger apparently and are expressing it in blogs and among
their friends. They are probably keeping it under the surface pretty much in the
office, but the tension is there and often can be felt.

Phyllis Weiss Haserot
President, Practice
Development Counsel
Consulting/Coach to the Next Generation
Author of The
Rainmaking Machine: and The Marketers Handbook of Tips Checklists
(both West 2009)

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