Is Generational Tension Impacting Your Work Culture?

If you have been in your career for some time, you probably still remember how you behaved as a new grad entering the workforce. You may remember differences you experienced at the time with coworkers from an older generation. Maybe you adjusted your conversation style or adapted your behavior in other ways to make connections, collaborate, and get work done. 

At the same time, younger employees are aware that many of their colleagues around the physical or virtual office are of a different generation or age group. 

Many of today’s corporate employees experienced similar coming-of-age milestones as they graduated high school, became legal adults, and embarked on 4 years or more of college before joining the economy as junior staff. 

Through most of those milestones, we are around people very near to our own age. Socially it’s also common for people to be around others their own age. The work environment is a very unique place where we come together as a professional community and spend a significant amount of time during our working hours in close collaboration with colleagues, reports, and bosses of very different age groups and generations. 

A timeless Harvard Business Review article is worth revisiting as it provides pointed feedback on how to manage employees that are a lot younger than you. 

The key is to ignore generational stereotypes and learn to recognize each person as individuals with unique personalities. 

Access the article to uncover more detailed feedback. 

 Read the Full HBR Article

‍