Tips To Manage Different Workplace Generations

Managers all over the globe have to face and deal with multiple challenges on a daily basis. One of these challenges is the question of how to manage different workplace generations.

In other words, managers have to deal with a variety of people who come from unique backgrounds and have distinctive perspective, ideas and thoughts.

A typical workplace today contains at least three of the below generations of employees:

• Baby Boomers – Born between 1946 and 1964
• Generation X – Born between 1965 and 1976
• Generation Y / Millennials- Born between 1977 and 1997
• Generation Z – Born after 1997

Here are 4 practical tips to manage different workplace generations and ensure their happiness:

Interact and Engage: Build collaborative relationships between different generations. Get employees from different generations to know the other group, so that there is understanding and appreciation. As a manager, you can facilitate cross-generational or reverse mentoring where employees from different generations exchange ideas, knowledge or expertise.

Don’t Stereotype: As a manager, prevent generational stereotypes from getting in the way. It’s natural for team members to exhibit their own set of behaviours and values. Focus on the individual and understand their personal motivators and solve any challenges they may encounter.

Two Way Communication – Employees across generations think that the best workplaces have transparency and open communication. Regularly have meetings with your team to learn how they are doing. You will also gain their trust.

Recognise – A senior employee might excel at one thing, while another younger employee will be an expert in another area. It is important that you praise them for their individual work and don’t make any unnecessary comparisons.

As a manager, your main goal is to make use of individual strengths and differences in a way that each member plays their role and contributes to the overall performance and accomplishments which in turn leads to the company’s overall success.

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