In today’s work environment, employee age gaps can be a source of challenges and opportunities. Right now, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z all coexist in the same workplace. Companies must use the strengths of each generation while fostering collaboration and understanding in their multigenerational teams. A central area where these generations clash is communication. Different generations often have distinct communication styles, preferences, and phrases. This is where Cultural Intelligence (CQ) can help.
One of the primary reasons Cultural Intelligence is crucial in managing multigeneration teams is that it enhances communication. Cultural Intelligence is the capability to relate and work effectively across various cultural contexts, including age-related differences. As workplaces adapt to the dynamic nature of generational gaps, assessing and boosting your team’s CQ becomes essential in addressing each age group’s unique perspectives and values.
Here are a couple of common situations where disagreements often happen.
Where You Communicate
Communication channels are often the primary sources of conflict. Older generations may prefer phone calls or face-to-face interactions, while younger employees tend to prefer digital communication methods such as texting or email. This can create a considerable amount of stress on good communication. Many younger employees in the workforce today exhibit a considerable amount of unease, and even fear, when it comes to making and receiving phone calls. Raised in an era of instant messaging, email, and text-based communication, many younger workers actively avoid phone calls, experiencing genuine anxiety at the prospect of a random call. They question if they are in trouble or getting fired. This anxiety can directly influence behavior, bringing misunderstandings and awkward exchanges into the workplace.
How We Communicate
How generations talk in the workplace will also be different. Baby Boomer and Generation X employees stick to longer, more professional messaging. They are more likely to engage in conversation before addressing the reason for the message. In the same way most millennial or Generation X workers might dread upcoming phone calls, they may feel that way with a random “Hey, how are you?” with zero context. The younger generation prefers to be more direct and communicate in shorter bursts. In some situations, they may also use causal terminology, slang, and phrases, inappropriate in formal conversation. Older colleagues may sometimes need clarification on certain phrases, leading to misunderstandings in the workplace.
Here’s how you can improve multigenerational communication within your team.
Ask for Feedback – Ask your team how communication is going. Create a safe space for feedback. Everything may be fine, or there may be issues that can quickly be resolved with awareness.
Adjust to the individual – Not everyone on your team will communicate in the same manner, nor will they receive communication the same. Different communication styles can be found within a single generation. Adjust and adapt for each member of your team. Cultural Intelligence can assist.
Mix Your Teams – Create projects and tasks where members of different generations work together. Avoid creating silos within peer groups.
Create Psychological Safety— Effective communication requires fostering an environment where individuals feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas without fear of judgment.
Create Mutual Goals – Communication is a two-way street; it cannot be one individual always adapting. Have your team members work together by setting mutual goals, allowing each to adapt and boost communication.
Want to enhance communication and collaboration across generations? Connect with our CQ experts to explore tailored solutions for your team.