Generational Differences in the Workplace: Bridging the Gap

Are generations really that different from each other? If so, can this affect the team and create conflicts at work?

Studies have found that generations do have different approaches to work and don’t share the same workplace values. Moreover, experts believe that, over time, these differences can lead to a lack of understanding, bias, and even conflicts within the team.

So, in this article, you’ll learn why it’s important to bridge the generational gap in the workplace and the best tips on how to do it. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Studies show that generational differences at work exist, especially between Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) and younger generations — Millennials (1981–1996) and Gen Z (1997–2012).
• Baby Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z don’t have the same communication, feedback, and leadership style preferences nor do they share the same workplace values.
• By being mindful of biases and open to communication and collaboration, organizations can work towards overcoming the generational gap in the workplace.

Workplace generational differences — a myth or a real challenge? 

Do generational differences at work actually exist?

Many studies have found significant differences between generations when it comes to both work approach and their values. A recent study from the Partners Universal International Innovation Journal (PUIIJ) found distinctions between older and younger employees in terms of:

• Communication preferences: Baby Boomers prefer in-person communication and emails, while Millennials and Gen Z rely on messaging apps,
• Feedback and recognition: Boomers favor formal annual performance reviews, Millennials and Gen Z like ongoing feedback and public team shout-outs, and
• Leadership style preferences: Boomers value experience, while Millennials prefer leaders their own age focused on inspiring the team. Gen Z wants both experience and inspiration.

Furthermore, a Frontiers in Psychology study found major generational differences in workplace values. For instance, younger generations such as Millennials and Gen Z valued good social relationships, career advancement, skill development, and money more than Boomers. On the other hand, Boomers have a stronger need for structure, rules, consistency, and stability.   

Therefore, we know there are differences between generations. The question is — can these gaps in values and preferences cause issues?

Managing Director at Greenline, Gerry Wallace, highlights the importance of bridging generational gaps, because “if you don’t, you end up with a team that’s working against itself instead of together.”

He further explains that, “when people don’t understand where their coworkers are coming from, it leads to frustration, miscommunication, and a lot of wasted energy on things that shouldn’t be issues in the first place. Different generations just have different ways of working, and if you don’t address it, you get a lot of unnecessary friction.”

Founder of TrueEQ, Brandon Bishop, agrees. He adds “communication breakdowns, distrust, aggressive outbursts, burnout, resentment, hostility, entitlement, toxic workplace, and differing values” to the list of issues generational gaps could cause. 

How to bridge the generational gap in the workplace

The abovementioned PUIIJ study also explored the key aspects of bridging the gap between generations at work. It found that by working together, employees of different ages and perspectives were able to understand each other better and overcome some of the age biases they had. 

The study also concluded that “layered biases rooted in misinformation exacerbate conflict.” So, bridging the generation gap is possible by overcoming the lack of understanding and information about each side. 

Here are some tips that could help in creating a more compassionate and informed team, making it easier to bridge the gap between generations. 

Tip #1: Focus on shared goals

We also talked to Clark Lowe, CEO of the O’Connor Company. He highlights that, despite the popular belief, urging employees to focus on the company’s main cause and values won’t make them work together. Instead, team members should connect through everyday goals they all share — whether it’s a team KPI or a daily target for their department. Focusing on the specific goals they share will make them work together and get along:

“Oftentimes, the how or why will be different, but goals transcend generations and bring a team together. Leaders focus so much on the how and why, they tend to leave people behind. Not everyone aligns with a cause — some people just want to get a job done.”

So, instead of the big picture, focus on shared goals — everyday tasks you work on together  and monthly targets the whole team has. That will help you feel more connected to the team, enabling teamwork and building trust.

Tip #2: Admit that you don’t have all the answers 

Wallace thinks that “a lot of tension at work comes from people assuming their way is ‘the right way’ without stopping to understand why someone else does things differently. But if you can be curious, you’ll usually find common ground.”

Head of Marketing at Digital ID, Adam Bennett, agrees, as he notes that our perception of what other generations don’t know prevents us from working together and sharing knowledge:

“Don’t come into a workplace with overconfidence and dismissiveness of what other generations can and can’t achieve. Instead, try to combine your knowledge, because let’s face it, they’re going to be better than you at something and vice versa.”

Tip #3: Communicate and listen with intent

Learning how to listen and express yourself properly goes a long way in creating a compassionate and healthy work environment. Wallace believes that communicating with intent and coming from a place of understanding and compromise makes the whole team better: 

“If you feel like an older coworker doesn’t take your ideas seriously, show them why they work. If a younger teammate seems impatient with traditional processes, explain why those systems exist in the first place. When both sides meet halfway, the whole team works better.”

He also notes that good collaboration involves being aware that not all generations communicate in the same way:

“Some older employees are used to more direct, no-nonsense feedback. But younger team members often expect a more collaborative approach, where feedback is a conversation rather than a one-way critique.”

So, by not being conscious of the generational communication differences, “what’s meant as straightforward advice might come across as too blunt, or on the flip side, too vague to be useful. At the end of the day, none of this is a dealbreaker if you actually talk about it.” 

And, as Wallace notes, the best teams prioritize compromise and work together to resolve their differences. 

Tip #4: Be open to mentorships

According to Kyle Sobko, CEO of SonderCare, one of the ways to overcome generational differences in the workplace is through cross-generational mentorship:

“Cross-generational mentorship programs can bridge generational differences and create a sense of understanding. For instance, at SonderCare we have organized for younger employees to spend time with a seasoned team member during work hours, providing an opportunity for knowledge and best practice sharing.”

So, sign up to mentor a younger colleague, or, if you’re younger, find an older teammate to shadow. It will give you a better understanding of how and why they operate in a certain way and a chance to offer and receive valuable advice.  

Bridging the generational gap in the workplace for more collaborative teams

Bridging the generation gap is essential for preventing frustrations, misunderstandings, and even conflicts within the teams. 

Luckily, with proper communication, compassion, and cross-generational mentorships, teams can overcome their differences and join forces in handling all of the challenges of the modern workplace.

Each generation can bring something valuable to the table. And, a respectful and empathetic work environment allows everyone to be at their most productive, as Sobko notes: 

“Understanding how to bridge the differences between generations is important to nurture an environment that is more inclusive and ultimately productive. When multiple generations join forces, their differences can be utilized with differing angles of creative problem-solving.”

Proper collaboration tools can boost your team’s communication even further! The CAKE.com Productivity Bundle will help you foster team communication, collaboration, and productivity.