Anderson, H.J., et al., What works for you may not work for (Gen)Me: Limitations of present leadership theories for the new generation, The Leadership Quarterly (2016)
The authors of this Leadership Quarterly article question whether five contemporary leadership theories are relevant to Millennials (those born between 1981-1997 who make up the largest generation cohort of the working population as of 2015).
This paper is an important read for all leaders and HR professionals whose leadership approaches are based on current theories.
"Several of our most widely researched theories of leadership may be stretched by the changing dispositions and values of the work force. We would contend that generational shifts have dictated a reevaluation of the applicability of many of our classic leadership approaches how they might be useful in leading the newest generation of organizational entrants. Given the generational shifts that have been discussed, managers and future researchers need to be mindful of both the adequacy and adaptability of these theories for the latest organizational entrants."
