Navigating Generational Differences in Today’s Workforce for the Healthcare Leader

Today’s healthcare workforce consists of staff from four generations, each bringing a different characteristic, work style, and value to the work place. This new era of workers is causing leaders of organizations to reassess how their workforce works with one another and how they view one another. Administrators often struggle to meet the needs and expectations of the various generations while delivering care in acceptable ways to patients also spanning the four generations.  How the generations will work together as a team for the organization to be successful is critical to the short-term survival and the long-term success of all types of healthcare entities. 

This paper will attempt to explain the characteristics of each generation so that healthcare leaders can embrace the differences between the generations and build effective multigenerational teams within the organization that will not only foster lasting relationships, but bring success to the organization as a whole.