How to bridge the generation gap

The Generation Gap – How to Bridge the Gap in the Workplace

The best leaders build teams with people from different backgrounds. While gender and ethnicity are more common facets of diversity, business leaders should never overlook the importance of age diversity.

To maintain a productive and inclusive workforce, business leaders need to develop practices that accommodate these differences. If you manage teams, read on to discover how you can bridge generational gaps and highlight your employees’ most shining qualities.

1. Create space for different communication styles

Your workforce spans multiple generations, defined by the years they were born: Baby Boomers (1946 – 1964), Generation X (1965 – 1980), Millennials (1980 – 1995), and Generation Z (1996 – present). Think of how people from these different eras came to experience work, independence, and technology for the first time. Gen Y predated the internet while Gen Z learned to use touch screens as toddlers.

Give everyone a fair avenue to receive and share information and make sure that you aren’t sticking to only one form of communication. Technology, not to mention a global pandemic, created a boom in virtual communications. But with that comes the possibility that your staff operate in silos.

Try to use a blend of communication styles so that everyone feels comfortable. Relying too much on Slack for example devalues the power of in-person conversation. Use technology to make your jobs easier, but remember that it can break down. Sometimes grabbing a cup of coffee to have a meeting is more satisfying.

2. Implement collaborative training

Learning is better together. Does your business have a group of Baby Boomers or Gen X employees leaving the team without Millenials to fill their shoes? Bridge the generational knowledge gap with training opportunities that allow more senior employees to train their younger counterparts.

A more senior employee could lead a lunch-and-learn session to share manager best practices, or you could let your employees sign up for training courses to learn their skill of choice. Empower your staff to share their knowledge so they’ll gain a greater sense of belonging and use some advice on reducing employee knowledge gaps.

You can also create the spirit of team learning with your onboarding process. Gather your new employees every month and have them undergo the same onboarding experience together. This way, they can build respect and understanding with one another from day one, regardless of their age.

3. Encourage flexibility

Priorities for people are different at every stage of life. Gen Z new hires might be fresh out of school and eager to prove themselves. A Millennial might have relocated to a new city alone to look for social opportunities at work. A Gen X crowd might have childcare and schooling obligations.

Your employees will not all have the same relationship to their job. You can help them be more productive and enjoy their work with greater flexibility. If they can swap shifts last minute for example, they can achieve some work-life balance.

For office employees, remote-work is likely here to stay after the pandemic. Consider following the trend and allow your employees to work from home to balance their obligations. If remote work is not possible for your business, give your employees a say in their schedules. Ask them for their preferences and support their priorities outside of work. Make sure they can easily communicate their availability and find a replacement if needed.

4. Avoid stereotyping

The internet might have you believe that Gen Z and Millennials are at war. Both seem to have some surface-level observations about the other around fashion choices, hobbies, and ethics. Stereotypes have developed about every generation. Baby Boomers are bad at technology, Gen X is submissive, Millennials are too soft, and Gen Z complains.

In reality, individuals often defy expectations for their age. For every generation, there is value in how people take on new challenges, gain experience, and desire to make the world a better place.

Don’t put your employees in a box. Just as you should never make any assumptions based on someone’s gender, remember that all of your employees are equally capable of succeeding. Throw stereotypes out the window and optimize your workplace so that anyone can feel supported.

If your team feels pressured to work long hours, create an open vacation policy. If they’re craving fulfillment, build training and volunteer opportunities. Give them actionable goals if they need more structure. The best leaders can bring the best out of their employees without making blanket assessments.

5. Provide mentorship

Each generation possesses unique knowledge and experiences to share. A successful workplace allows all generations to learn from one another.

Encourage your older employees to share their real world experiences, while younger employees can lead training on new technology and social trends if the other employees aren’t already aware of these trends. Mentorship should move in every direction so that every generation can benefit from learning and teaching.

Mentorship programs will build confidence in your workforce. Younger employees will feel more prepared for leadership, while older employees can adopt fresh approaches to work. Intergenerational learning will help your employees become well-rounded owners of their expertise.

6. Foster belonging

Create a culture of open, mutual respect. Your employees should be proud to work with people who don’t always look like them. Beyond your formal work operations, are there opportunities for your employees to authentically connect? If you have a team outing, remember that not everyone likes to stay out late drinking. Be inclusive with how you celebrate your wins, too.

All employees must respect what is important to their colleagues. You’ll only understand what these values are by creating the proper space to share them. Hold your team culture to the highest standard, and remember that people across every generation essentially want to be valued and seen.

Learn more tips to improve your workforce when you download The 2021 State of Shift Work Report.

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Bridging the Generation Gap – Your Top Tips

Do you remember your first day of work? Chances are, you started out as a junior; both in terms of your job title and your age. So, you will probably have experience of working with managers and colleagues who were a generation, or two, older than you.

Today, as more young, tech-savvy workers become managers, and the number of people working past retirement age continues to climb, large age gaps are becoming increasingly common in all sorts of businesses and organizations.

Managing an age-diverse team, particularly if you are younger than some of the people in your team, is no mean feat. So how do you successfully bridge the generation gap at work?

Age Doesn’t Equal Seniority

The first step is to accept that age no longer equates to seniority. It wasn’t so long ago that age and length of service were key factors in workplace promotion.

Today, the traditional career ladder is less important as the younger generation of workers places more emphasis on issues such as work-life balance and job satisfaction. These are considered more important than job titles. As such, positions of authority are no longer a given as you get older. And knowledge of tech, social media, and “soft skills” have become base requirements for many senior roles.

As a result, we are now seeing more millennials taking up the management reins. It can be easy in these instances for ego and stereotypes to get in the way of a healthy work dynamic between a manager and their team. So, we wanted to hear your advice on how to successfully bridge the age divide at work.

Your Top Tips on How to Bridge the Generation Gap

It’s Not a Competition

It’s not uncommon for older team members to feel threatened when younger colleagues are promoted above them. So be prepared for potentially hostile or competitive behavior to rear its ugly head, at least initially, and have a plan for dealing with it.

Some managers choose to address the topic at the very start of the process, to clear the air and to address any feelings of resentment or jealousy. This can be a great way to demonstrate an open and honest leadership style and invite helpful feedback.

But if you’re a young manager and you don’t feel comfortable revealing your age, don’t worry. Your age is your business. The trouble is that your appearance (perhaps a youthful lack of wrinkles!) can be a giveaway. Even if you don’t intend to address the issue, be prepared for the question, “How old actually are you?”

Gain Perspective

If a generation gap, or an age- or experience-related issue, is getting in the way of your ability to manage your team, try to see things from the other person’s point of view. As Facebook user Tammy Touhey put it, “Understand that they are not you. After that, everything will begin to make sense.”

We all have our own unique perspectives that enable us to do our jobs well. But, it can help to set aside your own experiences and beliefs in order to better understand your team as a whole. Actively listen to them, find out what they want to achieve, discuss ways that you can help them, and address their criticisms.

Twitter follower James Thompson says, “Be prepared to take a step further back than you might ordinarily, and listen properly, ears wide open.”

Develop Mutual Respect

HR professional and Twitter user Wendy believes that age gaps should be approached “with respect.”

Now that you have a better understanding of your team, it’s time to start building trust and respect. Take a leaf out of Tammy Touhey’s book and “leave your assumptions and biases at the door.”

Regardless of your preconceptions about “snowflake” millennials or conservative “boomers,” be respectful of the experience and skills that everyone brings to the table. Don’t let your preconceived notions of other generations mislead you.

For example, millennials have faced the unfair stereotype that they are lazy, oversensitive and privileged. But Facebook friend Tamara Galhuber says that we shouldn’t let stereotypes inform our management styles. She says we should build respect within teams by “asking questions more often than making assumptions regarding their motivation.”

Learn From Each Generation

James Thompson asserts that older managers shouldn’t “be the wise old owl too often.” Just because you have more experience or expertise doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be open to learning from your team.

Instead, accept that we all have unique skills, and we can all learn from one another. Facebook user Kay Wheatley says, “Each generation brings something different to the workplace. There is more than one way to do something and age diversity or the generation gap is the best one of all to demonstrate that.”

Age divides can be tricky to navigate. It’s easy to let resentment, lack of trust or stereotypes get in the way. But generation gaps can also be a great asset to your team. Take advantage of the wealth of skills and experience within your multi-generational team. Then, watch your organization thrive as a result.

Do you have any tips on managing across an age gap? If so, get involved and share your thoughts in the comments section, below.

How to Bridge the Generation Gap and Enrich Your Life

At the same time, boomers are remaining in the workforce—and working alongside the massive contingen t of millennial professionals — until well into their 60s and 70s. As Gen Z comes of age, we’ll see and unprecedented three generations working alongside one another — and sometimes struggling to communicate.

Finding Meaning in Intergenerational Communication

Is it possible to bridge the generation gap? Naomi Grossman of LifeJourneys Media thinks so.

After piloting The LifeStory Challenge in Boston, Naomi was approached by a local high school with a use case she hadn’t considered: pairing students with assisted living residents to take the Challenge together. The results were astounding: seniors loved sharing their stories with students, and the students were just as enthralled — not only with the stories, but with the parallels to their own lives. She watched as the pairs reconnected week after week and even kept in touch after the end of the program.

“When you know someone’s life stories, you know them,” says Grossman. “When you know who they were, you know who they are.”

5 Tips to Bridge the Generation Gap

With accessible platforms like The LifeStory Challenge and technology availabl e to people of all ages, we have unprecedented options for connect ing with others outside of our age group. If you want to enrich your life by building intergenerational relationships, here are four things to keep in mind:

A recent Forbes article examined an example of intergenerational communication failure in a frequently intergenerational context: a job interview. Wh ile professionals in their 30s or younger have grown accustomed to a relatively impersonal process mostly conducted online, older jobseekers are reporting feeling an absence of feedback rather than expected one-on-one communication through the process. While a millennial might not think twice about leaving a con v ersation unacknowledged until they receive internal approval to proceed, a boomer could view the silence as unprofessional.

Sharing stories and developing bonds intergenerationally is something humans are hard-wired to do, as thousands of years of oral history demonstrate. In other words, people have been doing this forever.

According to Naomi, “Younger people are often not only unaware of what life was like before they lived, but also are surprised at how many of the issues and complications of the present are similar to the lived experience of those who came before. They’re aware of this intellectually, but the contextual awareness provided by a person in their lives enables real understanding.” It’s empowering to know you’re not alone and to forge an unexpected connection with another person.

“I was struck some years back by the fact that older people tended to review their life. At that time, whenever people reminisced it was regarded by psychologists and psychiatrists as possible early signs of senility. But because we were studying vital, healthier older people, it struck me how important it was for people to come to grips with the kind of life they had led.”

Intergenerational communication isn’t a language to be learned: it’s an opportunity to be taken. We hope these tips can help you when bridging the generation gap in the workplace, at church, at school, at home or elsewhere in life. After all, the richness of lived experience deserves to be shared.

Sound interesting? Silvernest can help!

7 Ways To Bridge The Generation Gap

In the very beginning, you and your kid listened to music and watched whatever you put on screen. Life was quite simple. But as your child grows up life somehow changes, it feels like they are speaking in some kind of alien language that you have no idea about. What on earth is a LOL? Who is this Zayn Malik she keeps talking about? This is nothing but, generation gap. You need to understand it so that you can bridge this generation gap.

We can define the generation gap as the lack of communication between the two generations. This is because of the differences in tastes, habits, opinions, views, etc. There is a lack of understanding which is known as the generation gap. It is a certain kind of psychological gap that creates misunderstanding and lack of communication between the elders and the younger generation.

The generation gap is mainly the result of the fast development of the society. In the last century, 2 or 3 generations live in the same lifestyle as there was very slow development. But today as the world is advancing things are getting outdated and the world is getting more and more advanced. Most of the parents do not even know many of the modern gadgets and equipment their children use.

If you’ve ever heard yourself start something with “When I was your age…” while talking to your kid, there’s a fair chance that you both are facing generation gap.

A few tips for the children to bridge the generation gap between them and their parents

1. COMMUNICATE

Communication is the initial step that you need to take to reduce this generation gap. The lack of communication between you and your parents is the reason for this. You need to be on talking grounds with your parents. Speak to them about anything you feel like be it your daily routine or any latest things in your life. Start with it and you’ll see how with the due course of time you and parents will become attached. There will be a feeling of openness and affection among the two.

2. SPEND MORE TIME TOGETHER

Irrespective of whether you enjoy your parents’ company or not, try spending more quality time with them. You can go for a football match or whichever sport your dad is fond of or you could join your mother for an evening walk. This will make you as well as your parents enjoy each other’s company and it will help you in bridging the distance. What to teach your parents your sports lingo? Well, there are many interesting sports activities that you can teach them about and try together someday!

3. SHOW GENUINE GESTURES

This is a very effective method. Many times gestures succeed say a lot than the words. For this, you can gift your parents anything of their choice on the birthdays or maybe father’s or mother’s day. It need not be an expensive gift even the smallest gifts are the precious ones.

4. SHARE YOUR PROBLEMS

Tell your parents about anything that is creating a problem for you. They may scold you at first but they will solve it and they will be at your side always.

5. RESPECTING THEM CAN HELP BRIDGE GENERATION GAP

We were always taught to respect our elders but somehow as we grow up we forget about this. Respect your parents you owe everything to them. They deserve respect more than anyone around you. This will show them that you respect them no matter what the situation is, this will increase their affection for you.

6. ACT RESPONSIBLY

Many responsibilities are coming to your way as you are growing up. You need to realize them as fast as you can. It’s quite appealing for the parents to see their kids behaving maturely and acting like a grown-up.

7. HAVE PATIENCE

These were the tips for the kids.

A few tips for the parents to bridge the generation gap

1. Communication Is The Key To Bridge Generation Gaps

Communication is the key to bridging, the gaps, talk with your child, and listen to him these are the vital parts of a healthy relationship. Make your child realize that you have an interest in their interest. Even if you are the busy whole day in the job, take out time for them, ask them about their day and tell them about yours. Make this point clear to your child that you are always open to talk and when your child comes to you on the things you don’t agree with first listen to him more than you speak.

2. Keep Up With The Current Trends

Just keep up with the current trends going on in the present generation; even you don’t want to act like a fool. Keep an eye on the technology, music, clothes and social sites so that you can adopt these easily and can monitor your child’s activities and can help them in making wise choices.

3. Don’t Compare

Accept that times have changed, don’t say things like” when I was your age”, maybe things were different back then but there is a completely different scenario. There is no contest between you and your kids so don’t fight any with them. Accept the things the way they are now and act as a cool parent.

4. Get Online

Technology, media and the Internet can make a huge trench between you and your child, particularly when you don’t know or understand what your child does online. Try to get online and know about your child’s favorite websites online. Create your social networking profiles and try to use some of the gaming sites. This way you can keep an eye on his activities and track his records, and also you will have something in common to talk about.

5. Finding Similar Interests Is The Best Way To Bridge Generation Gap

Maybe your child doesn’t have the same interest as you have; there are no such reasons that he or she would have similar interests as you. Try to find things that are appealing to you both, it can be anything like your favorite cricket team or favorite music band or a shared hobby or a TV show. Take out time an indulge yourself with them and make your bond strong.

6. Fight Fair

There always will be some conflict between you and your kid. Parents always thought that they had made so many sacrifices for their kids so they are bound to listen to them and they think their sacrifices go unnoticed by their kids that’s why conflicts arise between the two. This creates sourness between kids and parents. Just don’t put your sacrifices in front of your kids, when they will be matured they will understand what you have done for them. Whenever a row arises just take a moment and rethink everything and try to make peace and think about the problem which was the reason behind this conflict and resolve it.

7. Be Willing To Bridge Generation Gap

Be open and willing to change your rigid structure and thinking. You must try to be flexible in your thoughts, actions, and ideas and keep up with the pace of time. Parenting is not rocket science it may have worked with you and your parents but maybe a different approach is needed with your kid. Just try to have a suit your parenting style with your children’s needs.

These are just a few ways from both sides to connect more and bridge the generation gap which is a serious problem these days.

Be cool and calm and try to resolve the conflicts, don’t be too late to take the actions and help each other to make things sound.

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How do we bridge the generation gap?

Feb 4, 2016

Image: An elderly man stands in Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes.

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