Generational Challenges

April might be known for spring showers and the occasional tax headache, but were you aware that April is also Celebrating Diversity Month?

As a generational enthusiast with a passion for bridging the generational gap, I’m excited to share more about celebrating diversity in the workplace, both in April and year-round!  

Celebrating Diversity Month

If we’re being real, the generational gap can sometimes feel wider than the Grand Canyon when we interact with one another! Baby Boomers might be muttering about “kids these days” while Gen Z wraps their brains around fax machines still being a thing. At the end of the day, each generation brings a unique set of skills, perspectives, and experiences to the table.

Let’s take a quick minute to review…

• Baby Boomers [Born 1946-1964]: Renowned for their work ethic and leadership qualities, Baby Boomers provide stability and a wealth of experience.
• Gen X [Born 1965-1980]: Self-reliant and adaptable, Gen X thrives in independent roles and excels at problem-solving.
• Millennials [Born 1981-1996]: Digitally native and collaborative, Millennials bring fresh ideas, a passion for purpose, and an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Gen Z [Born 1997-2012]: Born into a digital world, Gen Z is adept at social media engagement, creative content creation, and innovative solutions.

Working in a Multi-Generational Workforce

Working in a multi-generational workforce, we’re reminded of constant change and it can sometimes feel overwhelming keeping up. As we navigate diversity, in the workplace and outside of it, patience and open mindedness are key. Make time to ask questions and avoid making assumptions. Let’s consider these 5 tips: 

• Mentorship Programs: Pair a more experienced employee with younger colleagues for knowledge transfer and relationship building. This invites informal conversations and learning from each other’s skill sets.
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): Do you have an ERG that provides a safe space for open conversations and support?
• Reverse the Flow: Don’t underestimate the power of reverse mentoring! Encourage younger employees to work with long-standing employees on navigating social media and staying up-to-date on tech trends. 
• Anonymous Feedback: Offer employees a chance to share their perspectives and concerns on anonymous channels like surveys or suggestion boxes. This makes space for honest feedback without fear of reprisal.
• Tech Talk: Technology evolves faster than a teens fashion sense. Try offering training programs that empower everyone, regardless of age, to feel comfortable using the latest tools and platforms.

These are just a few ways you can begin fostering conversations and collaboration in the workplace.

Diversity in the Workplace

Ultimately, diversity is just the first key in the recipe for a successful workplace. Inclusion is the secret ingredient that binds everything together. Recognize and reward employees who demonstrate open-mindedness, collaboration across generations, and a healthy respect for differences. Foster a space where everyone feels safe to speak their minds, share ideas, and challenge the status quo. Celebrate diversity in all its forms – age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and ability.

For any generational issues or questions, you always have Gen-Expert Meagan Johnson. Reach out by email, direct message, or even a traditional phone call. Until then, stay open-minded and keep Zapping the Generational Gap!

Meagan discussed the Generational Differences and the generations in the workplace. Each generation is shaped by the generational signposts.

So what does that mean in the workplace?

Each generation has different expectations. Expectations in their lives, the workplace, as well as in the relationships.

Meagan discussed baby boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, as well as Millennials in the workplace.

NOTE: Please excuse the quality of the audio as this interview took place at a corporate office during working hours.

How do we connect the generations in the workforce? In my interview with The Day Ahead, we discuss generational differences in the workplace and how to best connect the generations.

The type of workforce we have today is not something we have seen in our history. Millennials and baby boomers, young and old, all sharing the workplace. That means companies are having to adjust to fit the style of these different generations.

Generational Differences in the Workplace

Should companies recognize the differences in these generations? And how should they do that?

Each generation comes to the workforce with a different set of expectations. It’s not about stereotyping or putting people in boxes. It’s about evaluating experiences people had that shape their expectations of their employer.

Baby boomers are a phenomenal generation that has an incredible tribal knowledge about their companies. As the younger generations come on board, there needs to be a connection between the seasons of generations. That includes Gen Xers and Baby Boomers. The less seasoned generations, such as millennials and now gen Zs.

Understanding Generations in the Workplace

Millennials were connected with a phone in their hand starting from junior high, and now it is even earlier. We’re not educated equally in terms of technology.

Millennials are coming on board with a desire to mix things up. To change the workforce, to challenge the status quo. And that’s a good thing. Sometimes we have an emotional attachment to the way we’ve always done it.

When someone comes on board and says: ‘Let’s move it, change it, flip it, turn it...’ Our instinct is to say that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The problem is that when we do that, not only do we disconnect from the millennials, we possibly lose out on some really good ideas.

Ask yourself whatever they want to do, whatever they want to challenge, does it negatively impact cost, quality, safety, or service? If the answer is no, try it!

The worst-case scenario will be no change. The best-case scenario will be that you reinvent the way you’re doing business. Or… you will find an easier way to get things done.

How to Connect the Generations in the Workplace

There’s no generation that is immune to lazy people. Just because a millennial has less experience than an older employee, that does not mean that they are not as passionate about what they’re doing. Recognizing the passion, excitement, and enthusiasm for the task at hand does not necessarily correlate to years of experience!

People can can develop better work habits. They become better at their job as they age, but if someone’s lazy – not sure that can be changed!

Establish that basic rapport that you need to get along with your colleagues. Introduce yourself, find something in common with them, get to know them. You learn how to work with people differently by actually doing it.

In this podcast segment, I discuss how to overcome generational differences and how generations can get along.

We have our differences, but we also have much to learn from each other. Each generation is different, with strengths and weaknesses and if we work together, and fill in the gaps, everything just comes together.

The more diverse the team is – the better you are! But… Sometimes it seems too hard and we want to give up.

I discuss every generation, from Gen X to Millenials to Baby Boomer and everything in-between and how they can better work together.

I will help you understand how to overcome generational differences in the workplace and how being emotionally attached to the way things have been done can limit progress.

A special thank you to Healthcare Rap for this podcast interview:

Listen to the ‘Can’t All Generations Just Get Along?‘ Podcast episode Now.

About Healthcare Rap:
Healthcare Rap is ushering in the future of healthcare and they check yesterday’s thinking at the door. They are challenging assumptions about marketing and technology, and the status quo no longer exists. Where truth drops as an atom bomb and knowledge flows like Niagara Falls!

Each week, they challenge assumptions that have been holding back healthcare marketing and ask how they can do better.