Chapter 2

But I Don't Think Like That

What We Need to Know About the Generations

I'd like to share a story that has helped many of my training participants get past their natural judgments about the seemingly strange, mean, or frustrating things other people do at work. I was a human resources director at the time, and was working in my office one day when a peer walked in and asked if I had a few moments. I'll call her Sally. Sally closed the door and vented for 10 minutes about how cold and mean our boss— the CEO—was to her. I listened, allowed her to vent, and then asked her for specifics. How did the conversation begin? What was the CEO's ...

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