Today’s workforce is made of more generational diversity than ever before. Because more Baby Boomers are delaying retirement, your company may have as many as four generations working together. Although generational diversity is an asset, it also can cause tension when employees don’t understand or know how to communicate with other generations. As a company leader, follow these guidelines to navigate differences among your workforce to encourage members of all generations to work together. For help filling your open accounting jobs in Los Angeles, get in touch with Alliance Resource Group.
Identify Pain Points
Be aware of pain points that typically cause generational tension. Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials and Generation Z have different views on workplace standards. For instance, whereas Baby Boomers and Generation X tend to give respect based on a coworker’s position in the hierarchy, Millennials and Generation Z tend to give respect to those they feel deserve it. Also, although Baby Boomers and Generation X tend to be more loyal to one company to reap long-term benefits, Millennials and Generation Z tend to be loyal to individuals. Be sure you treat these points of difference with sensitivity, curiosity and respect.
Facilitate Communication
Encourage open communication among generations. For an organization to last, company knowledge and skills need to be passed on to other generations. Keep in mind that different generations typically prefer different communication platforms. For instance, Baby Boomers and Generation X tend to prefer phone conversations, email or text while Millennials and Generation Z tend to gravitate toward instant messaging. Members of each generation need to adjust their approach to fit the person they’re communicating with. To ensure that isolated groups don’t form around instant messaging apps, be sure only one is used for a specific purpose to avoid employees missing key information.
Show Employees They Are Valued
Create a workplace where every employee feels valued. Feeling valued results in stronger engagement, inclusiveness and growth. Plus, having an intergenerational team helps your company reach new markets and customer segments while showing longevity and sustainability. Customers, investors and potential employees need to see that the business has a strong future.
Create Sustainability
Cultivate sustainability within the generations of employees in your organization. For instance, focus on leading workers rather than managing them. Develop meaningful relationships to build trust. Also, create space for intergenerational collaboration. You might organize forums to encourage dialogue or create intergenerational teams to work on a project. Plus, acknowledge unconscious biases, including your own, and gain insight into what activates those biases. Use humility and self-awareness to appreciate generational differences and use them to improve company culture and growth.
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