It’s no secret that Executive Directors (EDs) and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of nonprofits face challenging work roles. These leaders carry out important work in their communities while managing very limited resources, engaging dozens of stakeholders, responding to increased demands for services, and more.
This research came to be known as the Realities of Leading a Nonprofit, and it illuminated a number of challenges facing today’s nonprofit leaders. And here was a big one: Leaders of nonprofit agencies are doing too much. They’re spread too thin, and the “extra” or “distracting” tasks that end up on their plate have a very real impact on their degrees of engagement, commitment, and burnout.
Managers struggle to lead multigenerational teams. In fact, 75% of managers report that managing multigenerational teams is a challenge.
There are six key steps managers can take to make the most of multigenerational teams: communicate openly, learn from one another, don’t play favorites, challenge harmful stereotypes, remember how we’re alike, and develop essential skills.
Managing teams is tough work. Today’s managers must provide direction for the team, offer individualized support and feedback, ensure projects are completed on time, and more - all while keeping team members engaged, connected, and inspired.
Combine these challenges with the most generationally-diverse workplace in history and it’s no wonder that many managers find themselves overwhelmed and struggling to keep their teams on track.
Talk of generations at work is everywhere. A quick online search will produce articles claiming to know everything from “What Millennials Really Want at Work” to “Why Baby Boomers Can’t Get Along with Generation Z.”
There’s plenty of reason for there to be so much talk about today’s multigenerational workplace and what it means for managers. Most organizations now have members of four distinct generations working together, leaving managers to figure out how to maximize the most generationally-diverse workplace ever. And it’s no small task. Seventy-five percent of managers say managing multigenerational teams is a challenge, and nearly 80% of LiveCareer’s survey respondents say it’s difficult to have someone younger than them as a supervisor.
Manufacturing organizations have faced significant workforce challenges in recent years. The 2023 State of Manufacturing in Missouri report identified “workforce issues,” including employee recruitment, engagement, and retention, as the number one challenge facing manufacturers today. This same research also indicated that most manufacturing leaders expect their organizations will continue to face workforce challenges for at least the next five years.
Hiring is a primary challenge for manufacturers right now and will remain a top concern in coming years. Unemployment is at record lows, and finding candidates will continue to be tough. In light of this, manufacturers’ best strategy for overcoming workforce challenges is to prioritize engaging and retaining current employees.
