Bridging Generational Gaps at Work: How to Communicate Effectively with Every Employee

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Generational differences are sources of friction and fascination in our society. If you are a business owner with employees from four generations working side-by-side in the modern workplace (five, if you have senior Traditionalist generation employees), you may find it challenging to adopt a one-size-fits-all management style. About 60% of workers report generational conflict at work, according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) ’s “Harnessing the Power of a Multigenerational Workforce” (October 2017), and employees from all generations believe that their “older” or “younger” co-workers dismiss their abilities. You can reverse that trend! Whether your employees are primarily Baby Boomers (1946–1964), Gen Xers (1965–1980), Millennials (1981–1996), or Gen Zers (1997–2012) – or a combination – you can harness their superpowers and build a diverse, multigenerational team.

So, how do you bridge generational gaps in your workplace? Tracy Winn, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Senior HR Manager for G&A Partners, shared expert insights and best practices during our latest webinar, Bridging Generational Gaps at Work: How to communicate effectively with every employee. “We all want our organizations to succeed. We will all face challenges and uncertainty in the workplace in the future. We all want the same thing from our leaders. We all want some measure of success in our careers. We are all aging,” said Tracy. “It’s not what divides us that makes us great; it’s what we have in common.”

In this webinar, you can:

• Identify your company’s unique generational blueprint.
• Learn more about generational stereotypes, both accurate and exaggerated. Why are Millennials tired of being perceived as lazy and unmotivated, and is it true that Gen Zers have short attention spans?
• Acquire tips on how to capitalize on each generation’s talents. For instance, Boomers may not be as tech inept as you think, and Gen Xers can bridge gaps between older and younger generations.
• Discover how to future-proof your multigenerational workforce and gain a competitive advantage.
• Take away generational best practices to implement in your workplace, such as a reverse mentorship program.

Tracy also explains the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on generational differences. Perhaps not surprisingly, employees of all ages share concerns about workplace safety, flexibility, and returning to the workplace. She shares excellent advice on how to reunite team members under these new circumstances.

You can access the full webinar recording above or review the slides here. It has been pre-certified by the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) and The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) for one hour of HR general recertification credit. Download G&A’s The Modern Business' Multigenerational Guide for additional tips about bridging generational gaps in your workplace.

If you have additional questions after viewing the presentation or need help tackling your HR needs, let’s talk soon. For other resources, go to G&A Partner’s website and submit questions to info@gnapartners.com.