Lead Multi-Generation Teams

  Communications Management   Leadership   Talent Management   Teams   ProjectsAtWork  

Age diversity in the workplace presents challenges in the areas of communication, expectations, work ethic and skills. Some of the most difficult situations involve managing a much older or younger staff. But it is also important to understand the perspective of team members who are reporting to a younger or older manager.

Since mandatory retirement has long been abolished in most industries, we are living in a time where there are multiple generations of employees working together. Healthy seasoned octogenarians working alongside college interns, and every age group in between, can make for a particularly generationally diverse workforce. This age diversity in the workplace presents challenges in areas of communication, expectations, work ethic and abilities and strengths.

While multigenerational coworkers struggle to understand each other, some of the most difficult situations involve managing a much older or younger staff. Younger managers sometimes categorize their older workers as slower and technologically deficient. Older managers tend to question younger employees’ experience, maturity and work ethic.

Samantha, a newly hired 28-year old vice president of a small company is meeting with David, a 52-year old manager who reports to her. Samantha asks David to spearhead a project to create a Facebook page for their company. David responds that he does not …

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