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Understanding Generations in the Workplace

Oct 07 2025

World Mental Health Day: 90,000 Hours of Opportunity

Is Mental Health a Workplace Priority?

If not… here is why it should be!

“On average, we spend 90,000 hours of our lifetimes at work,” said Evans in an article by the American Psychological Association. “Businesses and employers have a responsibility to ensure that those hours are spent in environments that support the mental health of employees and their families.”

Let that sink in… ninety thousand hours. That’s a lot of coffee breaks, meetings, and Monday mornings! But it’s also a powerful reminder that the workplace isn’t just where we earn a living; it’s where we spend most of our lives. When those environments support mental health, people thrive – and when they don’t, everyone feels the strain.

A Shared Mission Across Generations

World Mental Health Day on October 10 invites us to reflect on how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go. Every generation has experienced the culture of work differently:

  • Traditionalists and Baby Boomers often learned to “tough it out.”
  • Gen X built a reputation for independence and skepticism of corporate buzzwords.
  • Millennials helped make conversations about burnout and balance mainstream.
  • Gen Z is raising the bar, expecting transparency, empathy, and authenticity from employers.

Each generation brings something valuable to the table. Together, we have the opportunity to redefine what healthy work looks like for everyone.

10 Ways to Build Generational Awareness and Support Mental Health

1) Ask Before Assuming – Instead of guessing, ask colleagues how they prefer to communicate and receive feedback. Curiosity builds trust and prevents miscommunication!

2) Express Gratitude – Say thank you often… whether it’s a handwritten note, a public shout-out, or a simple text message, appreciation is ageless.

3) Practice What You Preach – Leaders, show (not just tell), that it’s okay to take breaks, ask for help, or log off. When leaders prioritize well-being, it permits others to do the same.

4) Promote Work/Life Balance – Balance looks different for every generation and person. A culture that respects life outside of work creates loyalty inside of work.

5) Humor as a Connector – Laughter is a universal language! Use humor to break tension, bridge differences, and remind everyone that we’re all human, regardless of titles.

6) Flexibility & Adaptability – Be open to new tools, new ideas, and new ways of working. Flexibility keeps workplaces innovative and empathetic. 

7) Continuous Learning – Encourage personal & professional development with a mindset that everyone has more to learn!

8) Cross-Generational Mentoring – Speaking of learning… create opportunities for older and younger colleagues to exchange knowledge and personal experiences. 

9) Customized Communication – Email, text, chat, phone call, everyone has a preference. Learn what works best and adjust your style when possible. 

10) Celebrate New Perspectives – Diverse perspectives fuel creativity. When someone challenges “how we’ve always done it,” don’t dismiss it, explore it!

World Mental Health Day

The Bigger Picture

As Evans reminds us, “We cannot underestimate the positive impact we can have when we align our workplace policies and practices with people’s psychological health.”

Whether you’re mentoring a new hire, setting boundaries for your own well-being, or simply saying “thank you” to a teammate, you’re contributing to a culture where five generations can thrive together. Because when we take care of our people, those 90,000 hours have the potential to build connection, purpose, and true meaning.

Written by Meagan · Categorized: Generational Challenges, Generational Employee Engagement, Understanding Generations in the Workplace

Sep 23 2025

Fall Equinox 2025: A Time for Reflection, Curiosity, and Growth

Curiosity is Connection  

Summer is over, and fall is officially here! The fall equinox occurred on September 22nd around 2:20 pm EDT, marking a moment when day and night are perfectly balanced. The equinox is a brief, magical moment in the year when light and dark share equal space. Nature reminds us that balance is not a static state, but something we create and re-create every day.

As the world around us shifts, the Equinox offers a moment to reflect on the balance in our own lives: work and rest, giving and receiving, speaking and listening. It’s also a reminder to be curious about ourselves, about others, and about how we show up in a multigenerational world.

Curiosity Starts With You

Just like the equal split of day and night, personal growth requires balancing reflection with action. The Equinox invites us to pause and ask ourselves:

  • Where am I thriving, and where am I stretched too thin?
  • What habits or beliefs do I want to maintain, and which ones do I need to release?
  • In what areas can I bring more curiosity to my daily life?

A simple ritual: take a few quiet minutes during sunrise or sunset to journal your thoughts. Watching the transition of light to dark (or dark to light) can help you connect with your own inner rhythms and create space for fresh insights.

fall equinox

Curiosity About Others

In our fast-paced lives, it’s easy to assume we know what others are thinking or feeling. The Fall Equinox reminds us to slow down and ask instead of assuming. Whether you’re talking with a friend, a family member, or a coworker, consider asking open-ended questions like:

  • What’s something you’re excited about this season?
  • What’s been challenging for you lately? Is there any way I can support you?
  • How do you like to celebrate your wins and accomplishments?

When we replace judgment with curiosity, we create stronger connections and open the door to understanding perspectives we may have overlooked!

Curiosity in the Workplace

With five generations currently working side-by-side, differences in communication, priorities, and styles can lead to tension. But they can also spark creativity and innovation if we approach them with curiosity.

Instead of labeling coworkers with stereotypes like “Gen Z is glued to their phone” or “Boomers hate change,” ask questions to uncover their motivations:

  • What’s most meaningful about this project for you?
  • How did you first learn this skill, and in what ways has this skill impacted your career?
  • What advice would you give someone just starting in this field?

The Fall Equinox of Curiosity and Compassion

The Fall Equinox is a fleeting moment, but its lesson is lasting: balance is created through awareness and intentionality! By embracing curiosity about ourselves, others, and our multigenerational world, we can turn this season into one of deeper connection and growth. Because when we balance curiosity with compassion, we create a world where everyone’s light has room to shine.

“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” — Albert Einstein 

Written by Meagan · Categorized: Generational Employee Engagement, Understanding Generations in the Workplace

Aug 26 2025

National Women’s Day: Five Trailblazers and the Power of Workplace Community

National Women’s Day is a great reminder to look around us and notice the talent, depth, and creativity sitting right beside us – across every generation.

As a multigenerational enthusiast (and proud humorist), I’ve learned that when five generations share a conference room, you don’t have a meeting, you have a superpower! The idea is turning “We’ve always done it this way” and “Why are we still doing it that way?” into a productive dance instead of a duel.

Collective Capacity 

Progress sticks when people feel seen, trusted, and part of something bigger than their job title. Relationships create the psychological safety that turns ideas into experiments and feedback into fuel. Community – the habits, rituals, and shared language we build together – keeps momentum through change and uncertainty. When we design for connection (think generous listening, clear credit for contributions, and consistent touchpoints), we turn individual effort into collective capacity. 

Five Trailblazers Who Modeled Collective Progress

Each of these leaders changed systems by inviting more people into the work – and into the win.

  • Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020) – Demonstrated that durable change is built case by case, coalition by coalition, until new norms feel inevitable.
  • Katherine Johnson (1918-2020) – Proved that when organizations welcome overlooked brilliance, missions launch, and everyone’s horizon expands.
  • Dolores Huerta (b. 1930) – Organized workers and communities, showing that policy shifts when everyday people move in the same direction.
  • Wangari Maathai (1940-2021) – Linked environmental health to women’s leadership, planting a future where communities and ecosystems thrive together.
  • Malala Yousafzai (b. 1997) – Reminds us that education multiplies opportunity across generations – and that courage is contagious.
National Women’s Day

From Intention to Practice

Hope is a strategy when we give it structure. Consider these future-forward moves to embed collaboration into everyday work:

  • Design meetings for contribution. Share agendas early, rotate facilitation, and assign roles (initiator, challenger, synthesizer). Make contributions expected and equitable.
  • Promote cross-generational mentoring. Pair experience with a fresh perspective; set quarterly learning goals that both partners report on. Using SMART goal metrics for reflection and progress check-ins! 
  • Create transparent pathways. Publish criteria for projects and promotions. Track who gets access – and adjust until access is equitable by design.
  • Consider quarterly “assumption audits.” Personal or work wise. Ask which customer, employee, or community assumptions no longer align with your mission. Invite voices from multiple generations to pressure-test the answers.
  • Celebrate the hand-off. Recognize moments when one person’s expertise becomes another’s launching pad. Progress compounds when we honor the past, not just the finish.

Critical Connection

National Women’s Day isn’t just about honoring women’s achievements; it’s about practicing the behaviors that made those achievements possible. Behaviors like listening generously, sharing space, and building bridges that hold. When we connect across generations with curiosity and humor, we honor the women who paved the path for our future. 

“Movements are born of critical connections rather than critical mass.”

Grace Lee Boggs, American author, social activist, philosopher, and feminist

Written by Meagan · Categorized: Generational Employee Engagement, Understanding Generations in the Workplace

Aug 05 2025

5 Generations, 1 Workplace: Why Back-to-School Energy Matters

How does the Back-to-School season inspire lifelong learning?

August arrives, and suddenly the world smells like freshly sharpened pencils, notebook paper, and pumpkin spice (yes, it’s almost here… August 26th to be exact). In today’s age, lifelong learning is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s essential. Whether you’re a Boomer being introduced to AI or a Gen Z’er attempting to write a professional email without emojis, every generation has something to learn – and to teach!

The Multigenerational Learning Gap (and Opportunity)

“By 2034, 80% of the workforce in advanced economies will comprise Millennials, Gen Z, and the first Gen Alphas to become adults.” That means five different perspectives on everything from technology to teamwork! 

  • Boomers (1946–1964): Grew up with face-to-face learning. Value hands-on experience and institutional knowledge. Often prefer structured training over “figure it out yourself.”
  • Gen X (1965–1980): The “latchkey kids” turned adaptable professionals. They were comfortable learning solo, skeptical of fads, and fluent in both analog and digital worlds.
  • Millennials (1981–1996): Lifelong Googlers. Thrive on feedback, gamification, and learning that ties to purpose and career growth.
  • Gen Z (1997–2012): Digital natives who love bite-sized, on-demand learning (YouTube, TikTok tutorials). They want speed, relevance, and yes, Wi-Fi that works.
  • Gen Alpha (2013–2025): The youngest, with many still in school. They’ll bring AI fluency and new communication styles into the workplace faster than any generation before them. 
Back-to-School

The opportunity? Cross-generational mentoring. When we pair experience with fresh perspectives, we create a workplace where everyone levels up. Imagine a Boomer teaching leadership skills while a Gen Z teammate shares AI solutions — suddenly, everyone wins.

Why Back-to-School Season Matters at Work

Back-to-school season naturally sparks a “fresh start” mentality — even if you haven’t bought a backpack since 1998. It’s the perfect time to:

  • Audit your skills: What’s changed in your industry? Are there certifications or tools worth learning now? Invest in skills or hobbies you’ve been interested in! 
  • Refresh team knowledge: Host short lunch-and-learns or cross-training sessions (yes, adults love snacks too).
  • Encourage curiosity: Reward asking questions, not just having answers. “Curiosity is the starting point for learning how to talk to someone and meet them on their level.”

Plus, companies that prioritize continuous learning see higher retention rates and innovation, two things every generation can agree on.

The Bottom Line

This August, let’s trade any back-to-school dread feelings for back-to-school energy. Lean into curiosity. Celebrate the fact that we’re never “done” learning. Whether your child is starting kindergarten or you’re busy leading a boardroom, the ability to grow – and grow together – is what keeps us connected.

Written by Meagan · Categorized: Understanding Generations in the Workplace

Jul 22 2025

Friendship in the Workplace: A Hidden Key to Multigenerational Success

July 30 marks International Day of Friendship, a day when the United Nations reminds us that global peace begins with something simple, accessible, and beautifully human: friendship.

And while we often associate friendship as something born on playgrounds, through late-night talks, or over shared Spotify playlists, let’s not underestimate the power of friendship in the workplace – especially between generations. You are reportedly 7 times more likely to be productive at work if you have a close friend working with you! 

🌱 Friendship is More Than a Nice-to-Have

The UN believes friendship fosters social harmony and development. We believe it also helps:

  • Reduce workplace stress
  • Increase cross-generational empathy
  • Transform coworkers into allies

“Gallup has repeatedly shown that having best friends at work is key to employee engagement and job success. Gallup data indicate that having a best friend at work is strongly linked to business outcomes, including profitability, safety, inventory control, and retention.”

🚫 Generational Stereotypes Block Connection

  • “Boomers don’t listen.”
  • “Gen Z only thinks about themselves.”
  • “Millennials are too sensitive.”
  • “Gen X – wait, where is Gen X?”

These kinds of assumptions block connection and limit collaboration. But friendship breaks those walls. It says: “I see you, I value you, let’s figure this out together.” Friendship invites vulnerability and curiosity – two things every generation could use more of.

💡 3 Ways to Connect on Friendship Day

  • Lead with Curiosity, Not Animosity
    Ask open-ended questions like, “What was your first job like?” or “What’s something you wish people understood about your generation?” You’ll be amazed at what you uncover when you listen without preconceived notions.
  • Celebrate Weird Holidays
    From National Margarita Day to Potato Lovers Month, find the humor in shared celebrations! Friendship grows in the small, silly moments.
  • Volunteer Together
    Working together on something non-work related – like a community clean-up, spending a day at an animal shelter, or even planting trees as a team – naturally forges bonds and reveals shared values. “80% of consumers are more likely to buy from and 84% of employees are more likely to work for a company that stands up for the environment.”

🪄 Friendship Is a Powerful Reminder

Friendship is essential for living in a world filled with technology and distractions. It softens misunderstandings, strengthens bonds, and opens doors to collaboration we never knew were possible. When we invest in friendships, we build trust, empathy, and resilience between communities. We reduce stress, increase morale, and remind each other that no one has to figure it all out alone.

“In a world that can often feel divided, World Friendship Day is a powerful reminder of our shared humanity and the difference we can make by reaching out and supporting one another.” 

Written by Meagan · Categorized: Generational Employee Engagement, Understanding Generations in the Workplace

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