What would be possible if we stopped pitting generations against one another and sought new ways to blend our generationally diverse perspectives? On this week’s Digital Disrupted podcast, Paul Muller and I discussed these questions and uncovered just how we can end the generation wars once and for all.
Generational Differences: 5 Questions You Should be Asking Right Now
Megan Gerhardt • October 27, 2021
Greetings! My blog has been quiet lately, but conversations about generational differences have been popping up all over the world! We are getting ready to launch an all-new monthly Genelligence blog series sharing my favorite tips and tools for creating intergenerational learning and collaboration. Look for that starting in November!
Before that launches, here’s a quick update on some of the great Gentelligence discussions we’ve been having lately. From a podcast out of the UK to a group of luxury marketing professionals to Harvard Business Review, questions about generational differences are front of mind for many. This reinforces that the potential of Gentelligence is a relevant conversation just about anywhere.
Here are some of the most eye-opening questions I’ve been exploring with amazing collaborators on recent podcasts, webinars, and publications:
How in the world do you effectively manage a multi-generational team?
Harvard Business Review’s Emma Waldman explored this tough question on generational differences in the workplace in her recent article, and she had me on speed dial. Check out our conversation in the article at HBR.org.
Has COVID changed the way Boomers are thinking about retirement? I had the chance to dig into this rapidly changing phenomenon at a session of the famous Barn Gang at the Engineers’ Club of Dayton. Fun fact: the Barn Gang has been around for over 100 years!
How does Gen Z define ‘authenticity ‘ in the age of rampant social media? I joined Hana Ben-Shabat (founder of Gen Z Planet) on a panel discussion for The Luxury Institute. We also did some much-needed Gen Z myth-busting.
How can universities craft a generationally intelligent return to campus? Check out my recent article in AACSB Insights with undergrad Zach Russo. We compared data on how Gen Z students reacted to remote pandemic learning compared to faculty. Our learnings may surprise you.
These are just 5 of my favorite conversations on Gentelligence over the last few months. I’d love to hear how the role of generational diversity is sparking discussions in your corner of the world.
Tweet me @profgerhardt and tell me what questions you want to see me cover next!
The difference between multigenerational workforce and intergenerational workforce and why it matters.
Here's the thing about water.
Is a multigenerational workforce an opportunity or a threat? It might be up to HR.
Research is clear on this: it depends on how that age diversity is managed and the workplace culture that surrounds it. Really. That is the linchpin on all of this, which means it’s entirely up to your organization to do what it takes to turn what most see as frustration into an incredibly valuable human capital asset.
The phrase “milestones of adulthood” paints maturity as an objective concept anchored in the rites of passage of marrying, purchasing a home, and having children. Yes, for past generations, those have been common benchmarks that occur as one passes through life, but the article is based on what I consider a number of flawed premises. First, the assumption that not checking those boxes represents some personal failure and symbolizes a lack of maturity. Second, the assumption we are anchored to a static definition of growing up and adulthood.
My latest is a simple reframe, a tactic to help with our second Gentelligence practice, Adjusting the Lens. I try to avoid scripts, as there’s no one best way to lead or manage people, regardless of generation. But in the spirit of jumpstarting a smarter intergenerational conversation, I present a few Gentelligence phrases for you to try instead of judgment.
If you don’t want to hire Gen Z (that’s an entire generation made up of 69.3 million people in the United States alone) then I’m not sure what the talent strategy is here. Skip over 15 years of workforce? Is the plan to wait for the next generation because you don’t like this one?
The norms Gen Z is bringing to the workplace are a product of many interacting realities, not the least of which was a global pandemic that impacted education, development, and upended workplace practices everywhere. This is our first generation to begin their careers in a hybrid/remote/post-COVID/mid-AI world of work. Do they have things to learn and improve upon? Of course. Is name calling and alienating them a good way to build the trust needed to teach them? Again, no.
Here’s the most practical generational expertise I can offer: if you want collaboration and learning across generations, you must build a workplace culture that supports it.
Need a practical way to improve your generational communication in the workplace? Let me introduce one of my favorite tools: The 3rd Conversation.
Enter the 3rd Conversation
Here is how to use my 3rd Conversation tool to improve intergenerational communications. This involves using some of the Gentelligence Power Questions and the 4 Gentelligence Practices
Never before has my role as generational translator been as important as it is at this moment. Right now, your Gen Z employee may be panicking that they have somehow messed up. Questioning their career future. All because we included a PERIOD in a text message.
That’s right. If you are Over 30, you must learn what I learned yesterday: when you use a period in your texts, Gen Z finds this “harsh”, “scary”, and “passive aggressive”.
