All generations are not alike. While Baby Boomers base their vision of professional success on climbing hierarchical corporate ladders, Gen-X and New Millennial workers view success quite differently. These younger workers care little for tradition, placing a higher value on individuality, personal freedom, and the professional flexibility and creativity it takes to succeed in a globalized economy.

This generational divergence creates a communication challenge for many of today's managers. The promise of slowly climbing the company ladder no longer has the motivational force it once did, and the traditional management structure is quickly slipping into obsolescence. Younger workers are less loyal to their organizations, quicker to adapt to cultural and technological changes, and more possessive of their free time.