June 21, 2023

397: Implications of Perceived Generational Differences in Your Business with Dr. Michael Urick

46 minutes

Have you struggled hiring and managing employees for your business? One of the most common complaints is the issue of hiring someone from a different age bracket and how they work and communicate. Dr. Michael Urick (Dean of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government at Saint Vincent College) discusses the dangers of relying on stereotypes and perceptions, and emphasizes the importance of effective communication and understanding in the workplace. He also addresses the impact of generational differences on internal and external relationships, and offers suggestions for mitigating these risks. We explore the challenges and misconceptions surrounding intergenerational interactions, and encourages us to question our own biases and assumptions.

Main topics

Are difference real?
Common stereotypes
Conflict resolution
Workplace communication

Main takeaway: If you have beliefs about generational differences, ask yourself where they came from and understand the dangers those beliefs bring into your business.

About our guest:

Dr. Michael J. Urick is Dean of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania (USA) as well as a Professor of Management and Operational Excellence.

He received his PhD in Management (Organizational Behavior focus) from the University of Cincinnati. His MBA (focused in Human Resources Management) and MS (in Leadership and Business Ethics) are both from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and his Bachelor's degree in Accounting with Management and English minors is from Saint Vincent College. Dr. Urick has taught undergraduate and graduate courses related to organizational behavior, human resources, communication, conflict, organizational culture, operations, and research methods. His research has been widely cited in academic publications as well as in news media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal.

Dr. Urick is Six Sigma Green Belt Certified, Diversity Management Certified, a Certified Conflict Manager, Project Management Essentials Certified, and MBTI Certified and is also certified through the Society for Human Resource Management as well as the True Lean program at the University of Kentucky. He is the recipient of an "Excellence in Teaching" award from the Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati, the "Quentin Schaut Faculty Award" from Saint Vincent College, and a "Teaching Excellence" award from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs among other pedagogical honors. Internationally, Urick was also recognized by the Institute for Supply Management as a "Person of the Year" in the learning and education category.

Urick is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Leadership and Management based in Poland, the North American Associate Editor of the Measuring Business Excellence journal, and on the editorial board of Management Teaching Review. He is also the Editor for the "Exploring Effective Leadership Practices through Popular Culture" book series from Emerald Publishing.

Professionally, Urick has served on the boards of ISM-Pittsburgh (in various roles including President) and the Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival (a top-rated community event). He has also served on the Westmoreland Human Resources Association (a regional SHRM chapter) board in various positions including Vice President. Prior to academia, Urick worked in a variety of roles related to auditing, utilities, environmental issues, and training and development. Through these experiences, Dr. Urick became fascinated with interactions in the workplace and how they might be improved which has influenced his academic career.

For fun, Urick enjoys music and, since 1998, has been a semi-professional jazz musician and toured through over a dozen US states while releasing multiple recordings with various ensembles.

Links:

https://michaelurick.com

https://www.stvincent.edu/directory/faculty-staff/faculty/michael-urick.html

[email protected]

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Full show notes and transcript