Communication seems like it is easy to do when you are at work. You are leading a meeting to talk about projects and then everyone goes on their way. You don’t check to see that everyone is aligned and on the same page with what was discussed. There is just an assumption that everyone understood the same thing that you did. I can’t tell you how many meetings I attended that I thought the same thing. How could people who all attended the same meeting have different interpretations of the outcome?
It happens more often than you think and one contributing factor may be that there are now up to five different generations in the workplace. The ways of working, beliefs, and experiences are vastly different and can cause communication challenges. Leading across the generations may require a different approach for each one.
The work experiences that each generation has been through are so varied and each generation believes that their approach is the best. The older generations prefer phone calls or in-person meetings because that is how they have always done it. While the younger generations prefer to text and if they have to they will email.
One person’s style isn’t better or worse than another, but it is important to understand how they differ. For example, it is helpful to know that a Gen Z will prefer texting to an in-person conversation. It doesn’t mean that they aren’t willing to have a conversation, but it is not their default choice. They grew up with phones in their hands and it is the primary source of communication for them.
Learning about the generational differences as a leader is important to be able to lead them in the best way. Each generation can learn new things from the others if they are open to it. Facilitating the learning between generations is key. This understanding is important for everyone and can help a team come together and be stronger. What could you learn from someone in your family or workplace who comes from a different generation?