Most organizations approach the ongoing workplace transformation incorrectly because they think it centers solely on technology. But, a more significant change is taking place, and it’s more dramatic than in previous eras. It’s generational.
At least four generations now work side by side — Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials and Generation Z. By 2020, Millennials will make up half of the workforce, according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and the next generation, Generation Z, continues to enter the workforce at an increasing rate.
While multiple generations in the workforce is not a new phenomenon, I dare say the current workforce includes the broadest gap at any point in history. Consider that the oldest workers were born in the shadows of World War II, while the youngest will never know a time when the exchange of information wasn’t instantaneous.
While it might seem like different age groups working side by side will assuredly lead to friction, it presents an opportunity for colleagues with diverse backgrounds to learn from one another, particularly when it comes to technology. What makes this shift so interesting is how each generation views technology and its role in the workplace.
Building teams with members of different generations should no longer be viewed as unavoidable. It should be considered to be an opportunity. It exposes workers to diverse opinions, and in the process, we can expand our thinking. We all approach the day differently, and often, one way is not better than another. Diverse perspectives allow us to challenge our preconceived assumptions and enable teams to deliver their best work.
Perception of a problem
While friction exists between age brackets, nowhere is it more acute than between Baby Boomers and Millennials. Like any discord, left unchecked, it has the potential to fester and grow into a more significant — and ongoing — problem.
According to Workfront, 54% of Millennials believe Baby Boomers are the biggest roadblocks in the workplace, while just 1% of Baby Boomers say Millennials have the strongest work ethic. However, 67% of Baby Boomers acknowledge that Millennials are the most tech-savvy generation.
While studies show there is friction, focusing on the workforce’s differences does not make for a productive conversation. It’s actually in our differences that we can find strength.
‘Digital natives’ and technology
One of the most prominent misperceptions organizations hold is that younger generations, often called “digital natives,” know how to use technology better. While it is true that these younger workers grew up using technology, they can learn a lot from older generations about how solutions might be used in the workplace, specifically when it comes to collaboration.
Introducing technology with only a single generation in mind is one problem organizations make for themselves. Any solution works best when it complements an organization’s broader approach to business.
But, every generation uses technology; it’s not just the younger generations that adopt the newest and latest technology.
Consider cell phones as a harbinger of technology adoption. Today, there are more than five billion cell phone users worldwide. According to the Pew Research Center, more than nine in 10 Millennials (93%) own smartphones. That is slightly more than Gen Xers (90%) and significantly more than Baby Boomers (68%). However, Boomers are increasingly adopting technology, albeit at a slower rate, as just one in four (25%) owned a smartphone in 2011.
Diverse viewpoints
Perhaps more than anything, different generations have disparate approaches to the world at large. As such, they view problems differently.
It is these varying viewpoints that provide an opportunity for team members to learn from one another. Through this learning, the team can find new ways to tackle complex — and even longstanding — problems.
This meshes well with several surveys, which found Millennials, in particular, want to feel engaged and learn from their work experience. More seasoned colleagues can mentor their younger counterparts, who can, in turn, teach their older team members new ways to look at the world.
Opportunities to lead
Bringing together a diverse workforce requires a strong leader with a clear vision who inspires his or her team to bring it to life. And, this vision needs to be specific about how to use technology to solve problems and accomplish business objectives.
It also requires flexibility. A workplace should not be about a one-size-fits-all approach to work. A leader should enable teams comprised of diverse viewpoints — and from different generations.
Technology enables teams to work wherever and however is best for them — so long as they are accomplishing what is expected of them and they continue to provide value to the organization as a whole. Team members will likely hold varying views about how to approach the workday — but we should make it a point to find strength in our differences.
