13 Strategies for Uniting an Inter-Generational Business Team

With the current workforce now consisting of Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials and, increasingly, Generation Z, these distinct generations all bring with them different ideas about how the day-to-day operations of a business should work. This can create a toxic environment of miscommunication and misunderstanding that negatively impacts a business’s ability to retain its employees and properly serve its customers.

When these challenges arise, it’s vital that leaders develop a plan of action to connect and build strong relationships with employees, regardless of their age, generation or experience level. To help, 13 Newsweek Expert Forum members offer tips to help business leaders pull the different generations in their workforce together to the benefit of the entire organization.

1. Cultivate a Culture of Curiosity

In a dynamic workplace, leaders should cultivate a culture of curiosity. Guide team members to approach operations with open mindsets. Encouraging questions, seeking understanding and inviting diverse perspectives is key. This proactive approach not only enriches collective understanding but also prevents unnecessary judgment, fostering a healthier, more inclusive company culture. – Leah Marone, Corporate Wellness Consultant

2. Lay Out Processes and Expectations

Create processes and set expectations. People will always have different expectations, but an organization needs common understanding to function properly. Communicate how the organization functions. For example, are urgent matters handled over email, chat, text or a phone call? Reduce misunderstandings with clear expectations, communication and alignment upfront. – Krista Neher, Boot Camp Digital

3. Encourage Open Dialogue and Active Listening

Navigating diverse generational perspectives in the workforce is vital. Encourage employees to use open dialogue and active listening to understand each generation’s preferences and strengths. Foster a collaborative environment where each generation’s insights are valued. This will promote teamwork and a sense of belonging amongst all members. – Adi Segal, Hapi

4. Prioritize Empathy

There will always be an inter-generational disagreement about how things should be done. Always has been, and always will be. We should simply recognize this as a fact. Boomers had to explain to their parents what rock and roll was in the same way Gen Z has to explain what the Metaverse is for. The same goes for management styles. Empathy will be the glue that makes it all work together. – Zain Jaffer, Zain Ventures

5. Leverage Common Employee Interests

Explore common interests among employees to create a culture of collaboration. Encourage this culture by identifying cross-functional project teams that mix age, experience and roles. This will provide unique opportunities for employees to get to know one another, share perspectives and connect and interact in new ways. – Steve Smith, Zayo

6. Focus on Individual Strengths and Experiences

To unify different generations in the workplace, leaders should focus on individual strengths and experiences rather than generational stereotypes. I suggest leaders consider adopting Wharton Professor Mauro Guillén’s perennial mindset concept, which emphasizes inter-generational collaboration based on shared skills and knowledge, not age. – Joseph Soares, IBPROM Corp.

7. Communicate the Value of Different Perspectives

Combining different generations on your team gives you access to a variety of valuable perspectives. Embrace that and encourage people to value each other’s different viewpoints. This promotes inclusion while also yielding unique results—which you can cement through mentorship programs to ensure that experiences are being passed down as well as up. – Gergo Vari, Lensa

8. Set Up Cross-Generational Mentorships

Promote cross-generational mentorship programs. This approach helps bridge generational gaps, leverages diverse strengths and creates a collaborative team culture where every member feels valued and heard. – Britton Bloch, Navy Federal

9. Create a Culture of Open Communication

Inter-generational teams can create a treasure trove of resources and ideas. By creating a company culture focused more on open communication and less on promoting one right answer, leaders can provide an outlet for new and different perspectives. This outlet will provide an opportunity for team members to share and compare innovative ideas. – Donna Marie Cozine, Consult DMC

10. Create Alignment Around Problems and Solutions

Align the team around a problem to solve. A shared sense of purpose spans age, stage, team and tenure and keeps the focus on generating solutions, deploying pilots and making progress where it belongs. – Karen Mangia, The Engineered Innovation Group

11. Encourage Collaboration and Strong Relationships

Have employees collaborate and build strong relationships with others, especially in areas where they may have weaknesses, and set an example. As an older business owner, I believe it is crucial to work with younger generations who have more up-to-date knowledge and skills. By doing so, you can create a strong team that combines the expertise of both generations and fills in any gaps in knowledge or experience. – Tammy Sons, Tn Nursery

12. Implement a Reverse Mentoring Program

Leaders can consider introducing generational reverse mentoring programs. Pair younger employees with older ones, having each teach the other about their generational perspective or any work-related aspects that they are good at. This an approach that can foster mutual respect and inter-generational learning, effectively bridging the gaps in understanding different operational methods. – Dr. Kira Graves, Kira Graves Consulting

13. Keep an Open Mind

The best way to grow is to keep an open mind. Encourage your employees to seek out others for what they don’t know versus what they do already know. Leaders should do the same. You may be surprised to learn that what you thought was a given reality has another very plausible perspective when seen through the eyes of others with different generational experiences. Stay open and receptive to alternative ideas. – Margie Kiesel, Isidore Partners