Coexistence with diverse age groups during work
Interacting with fellow colleagues from different generations at work is crucial, yet it doesn't always run smoothly. Barbara Wittmann, Country Manager DACH at LinkedIn, suggests three tips on how to work harmoniously with individuals from various age groups.
Start by dispelling common stereotypes about generations - baby boomers are resistant to change, whereas Gen Z doesn't want to work. These assumptions are misleading.
First tip: Initiate interactions
Wittmann recommends employees to engage in conversations with their peers. This encourages healthy communication, enables the understanding of alternative working methods, fosters mutual appreciation, and serves as a foundation for trust and valuable relationships. In the long run, employees will reap the benefits of their connections.
Second tip: Bridge the generational gap through mentoring
Request your manager to assign you a mentor or find one by yourself. Mentoring facilitates skill development, assists in achieving career objectives, and generates dialogue between various generations. This bi-directional process allows both experienced workers and younger colleagues to learn from each other and obtain fresh perspectives.
Third tip: Network beyond your company
When opportunities for intergenerational communication within the organization are scarce, consider expanding your reach. You can make connections beyond your company and leverage the insights of other experts. Career networks provide a platform to collaborate with professionals from diverse organizations, ultimately enriching your professional development.
Research reveals strained communication between generations at work
A study by Censuswide on behalf of LinkedIn highlights the necessity of fostering communication between generations in a company. It found that one in ten Gen Z individuals had not communicated directly with a colleague over 50 years old in the last year. The main reason was fear of embarrassment by Gen Z (39%), while nearly half felt misunderstood by other generations (49%).
Wittmann emphasizes the need to break these barriers to create a more unified and productive team environment.
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In this work environment, it's essential for the employer to encourage interactions between employees from different generations, breaking down stereotypes that might exist about their professions or age groups. This can be achieved by fostering open communication and encouraging mentoring relationships between senior and junior employees, promoting a mutual learning environment. Furthermore, network opportunities outside the company can also be beneficial in bridging the generational gap, providing diverse perspectives and broadening professional development.
Source: www.ntv.de
