Is there a generation gap in your workplace? One of our brightest young stars at Mary Kraft told me there is a generation gap in our workplace just last week! I've been able to think of little else ever since! Ironically, I haven't even contemplated the term "generation gap" since I was well on the other side of the gap! Could that actually be the challenge for the majority of us? We would love to hear from you about the conversations you are having in your workplace on this topic - Lisa Benson, Staffing Director/Contract Administrator. Please email at [email protected] with your stories!
It wasn't until recently that employers had to deal with not two, not three, but four different generations in the same work environment. This may not seem like a big deal, but with each generation comes a certain set of standards held close by that generation. The issues come about when these standards do not overlap from generation to generation, and having to deal with as many as four sets of standards at once can lead to many problems if not handled in a productive way. In fact, in many workplaces, not only do they not overlap - they can't even be effectively communicated from one generational group to the next without providing tons of context and explanation for each groups' perspective!
"People don't respond well to change," said Matt Zamzow, Director of Training at Birkman International. "Even though they may look at change and say they can adapt, most people are still resistant to change. When younger generations and older generations work together, they automatically attribute judgments to these differences because they see something they aren't familiar with."
According to Birkman's How Do Generational Differences Impact Organizations and Teams?, the main areas that younger generations push back on are judging work on merit or time and effort, different communication styles, and, of course, the technology divide. Younger generations today, specifically Generations X and Y, tend to want to be valued for the quality of their work and not how many hours they put in at the office, while some members of the Baby Boomer and Traditional generations believe that age and experience should be valued above all. Both Traditionals and Boomers are resistant to confrontation and dislike arguing in the workplace. Generations X and Y, on the other hand, tend to feel more comfortable pushing back if they feel strongly about an issue. The only thing all generations can agree on, in fact, is how uncomfortable they ALL are with the burgeoning idea of being compensated more on the basis of a company's overall fiscal productivity, in some form or fashion, than being compensated for being present and "busy" all day.
When it comes to the best way of communicating, these four generations tend to run in four different directions. For Traditionals, formal language and traditional communication techniques go over best. They work best with things like memos, letters, and personal notes. Baby Boomers are more inclined to communicate face to face, enjoying conversations over coffee or lunch meetings. Baby Boomers like to talk ideas out, so phone calls and personal interaction gets their results. When it comes to Generations X and Y, they are relatively similar in their communication preferences. Members of Gen X tend to be very direct and results-oriented. This can sometimes come off as being very abrupt or abrasive, but they simply want to know what needs to be done and when it needs to be done and they will make it happen. For Gen Y, it is also important to be direct and straightforward with your employees. They thrive on social media and expect to be able to continue that at work. Communicating with them through text messages, emails, blogs, or other social media avenues is best.
Technology seems to be one of the biggest drawbacks to working with multiple generations in one environment. According to a Birkman International white paper, the older generations, Traditionals and Baby Boomers, either are not familiar with the newest technologies, or they believe them to be almost encroaching on the person's place in the office. What I think Birkman meant by this is that since Traditionals and Boomers prefer to communicate face to face, it took some time to adjust to the advent of email and instant messaging changing that. The younger generations, Gens X and Y, tend to be more technologically savvy. Gen Xers are familiar with the technology, work well with it, but are beginning to worry about being outpaced by the extremely technologically adept Gen Y.
Knowing about these generational differences is the key to creating a harmonious workplace for everyone involved. Above all else, mutual respect and clear communication are the most important factors from generation to generation. Things like advances in technology can be taught or learned, but instilling an environment of respect and open communication is what will really set your office apart when dealing with the inevitable generation gaps. |