Can You Manage Different Generations?

As the oldest baby boomers draw closer to traditional retirement age, forward-thinking firms are investing more heavily in leadership development and succession programs. They are focusing on building up bench strength: embedding in their top young talent the skills and wherewithal to take over leadership positions when the time comes. On the surface, it seems like a sensible approach. But what if the people you’re counting on to lead your company into the future won’t be there when you need them? Or what if they don’t even want the roles for which they are being groomed?

According to recent studies, both such possibilities are increasingly likely—especially for companies that are not keeping pace with the changing makeup and diverging priorities of the U.S. workforce.

by Eric J. McNulty

Full Story: http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item.jhtml?id=5297&t=entrepreneurship&iss=y