07.19.22
Managing and Communicating With Different Generations
by: BISA Staff
One of the major challenging contributors to managing a workforce is the multigenerational difference that sets employees apart. Although this provides a great sense of variety and knowledge in various areas of business, this gap can also cause miscommunication within an organization. It is important to reflect on the fact that each generation has a different set of needs and preferences that might not be able to be met the same way.
Before we explore management and communications recommendations across generations, it’s important to have a common understanding of the different generations. Here is a simple infographic to use as your key for generational definitions by age:
The infographic shown provides a few helpful articles with tips for building stronger bridges across generations.
How to Improve Communication Between Generations in the Workplace
By Ryan Jenkins, Entrepreneur
Here are key takeaways from the first of five strategies – “Gain generational awareness” – shared in this article:
- “Baby Boomers appreciate formal and direct communications with a preference for using face-to-face, phone and email; they value background information and details.”
- “Generation X appreciate informal and flexible communications with a preference for using email, phone, text and Facebook; they value a professional etiquette.”
- “Millennials appreciate authentic and fast communications with a preference for using text, chat, email and Instagram; they value efficiency and a digital-first approach.”
- “Generation Z appreciate transparent and visual communications with a preference for using face-to-face, Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok and FaceTime; they value video, voice-command and a mobile-only approach.”
Read the Full Article
Connect Outside of the Office
By Adam Uzialko, Business News Daily
In this article, Robert Half Management Resources provided five tips for managing employees from different generations. Here is one of those tips:
"Get Out of the Office. To get your employees of different generations to know one another better, consider hosting off-site team-building events. Being in a setting outside the office is a good way for employees to learn more about their colleagues.”
Read the Full Article, Including All Five Tips
Use Different Communication Tools
By Jason Bodin, Forbes
In this sponsored article on Forbes, Jason Bodin shared communication recommendations for sending important company-wide information based on generations:
| Communication Tool |
Preference by Generation |
| In Person |
The Silent Generation |
| Phone Call |
Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation |
| Email |
Generation X
Baby Boomers and Millennials are also accepting of email for business use
|
| Text |
Millennials |
| Social Media, Specifically LinkedIn |
Millennials |
| Office Communication Programs (e.g., Skype for Business, Slack) |
Millennials |
| Learning Management System |
Millennials |
Read the Full Article