Introduction
It is hard to disagree that the conflict of generations has long gone beyond the relationship between parents and children. For example, in her 2014 article “The Beat (Up) Generation,” Ellin discusses how in the 2010s, for the first time ever, three generations began to work together in offices. The author discusses the factors that made millennials so different and “reviled” and names some characteristics of this generation. It appeals to me that she does that in an ethical and non-judgmental manner.
Summary of the Article
In the 2010s, many millennials graduated from colleges, and their radically different views on the world, doing business, and concepts like respect caused a storm of indignation and misunderstanding from their older colleagues. Ellin explores the key factors that have affected the development of millennials’ characteristics, including cultural and technological effects. The researcher provides opinions of representatives of other generations, managers, journalists, and psychologists, which allows readers to see the whole picture and understand millennials’ behaviors better. Eventually, Ellin indicates that this generation should be celebrated because they bring numerous positive aspects to this world.
The Impact of Culture and Technology
As for me, one of the most interesting ideas expressed in the article is how technological and cultural advances have made millennials the way they are. Indeed, these people are accustomed to using gadgets and taking advantage of the benefits they offer. According to Buffington, “they have a different value set – on global interconnectedness, the Internet, cell phones, instantly knowing what’s going on in the world” (as cited in Ellin). Noticeably, these values have not been voluntarily selected by millennials – instead, this generation has successfully and rapidly adapted to the changing world. This easy adaptivity is a skill that previous generations lack (Ellin). Further, I agree with the author’s claim about the strong impact of the culture of self-promotion that millennials experience. I have met older people being annoyed about this tendency among millennials to create their own brands on social media. However, this does not relate to being narcissistic – it is a modern way to be competitive and mark one’s presence, and I am pleased that this is acknowledged in the article.
Strengths or Weaknesses?
When reading the text, I changed my mind from time to time about whether the highlighted traits of millennials were their weaknesses or advantages. In my opinion, Ellin has structured her article greatly, allowing readers to explore the different characteristics of the generation and finally understand that all these aspects are simultaneously their cons and pros. I believe the following sentences describe millennials and their duality best: “they seek constant feedback and immediate gratification. They multitask and can’t focus. They’re sensitive to criticism and unable to work alone” (Ellin). Therefore, one needs to understand that depending on the specific situation, this generation can use their traits and skills to either annoy others or show their talents and exclusivity.
Conclusion
To conclude, I might say that the article in question is a valuable source for understanding millennials’ nature and unique characteristics. Although it was written almost ten years ago, it does not lose its relevance because many managers still need to learn to work effectively with the representatives of this generation. Eventually, now it is the time when many Zoomers enter offices and begin working with other generations, and this paper might help them adapt to each other.
Work Cited
Ellin, Abby. “The Beat (Up) Generation.” Psychology Today, 2014, Web.