Running Head: HOW TO COMMUNICATE IN A MULTI-GENERATIONAL WORKPLACE1
HOW TO COMMUNICATE IN A MULTI-GENERATIONAL WORKPLACE 2
How To Communicate In A Multi-Generational Workplace.
Student’s Name:
Professor’s Name:
Date.
Why is it important to consider the five generations in the workplace?
In any workplace, there exists a wide range of challenges that managers need to work on to ensure that everything is running as expected. Among these challenges include the management of employees with diverse cultures, backgrounds, and different generations. Proper management of various generations may prove to be challenging to some managers, but with proper staff and generation management strategies, it will be simpler and more enjoyable (Paychex, 2019). it must understand that managers need to understand and accommodate employees within various in order to make them feel valued and recognized. With this, it will be possible for organizations to improve their productivity.
Among the groups that make up the five generations in any workplace include Generation Z, composed of people born between 1997–2012, Millennials 1981–1996, Generation Xers born between 1965–1980, and Silent generation whose members were born between 1928 and 1945. Based on the question, an organization needs to consider having the five generations, as mentioned above, in their workplace since an unprecedented number of different and overlapping generations at the workplace ensure that new opportunities for learning and sharing new ideas are created (Paychex, 2019). When different generations work together, there are increased chances of knowledge, skills, and experience transfer (Paychex, 2019). It should be noted that more often than not, the aging population plays a critical role in the workplace as they have been found to reshape market labor and help upcoming generations for the best foundation for their career and work experience.
What are some of the similarities and differences between the generations?
The main difference between the generations mentioned above is that each of them grew and evolved during different times. This means that economically, socially, and politically the five generations have always grown with different understandings about various aspects of human life. Before 2000, there was less investment in technologies, but currently, there are numerous technologies that have been developed and deployed in different workplaces. This aspect also brings out the differences in which the five generations will approach and handle different types of technologies. Given that the Silent generation was the first among the five, individuals in this group favor a traditional workplace with minimal technologies. Everything is more manual than automated tasks (Hirsch, 2020). They also prefer and value personal or face-to-face interaction get scared of online-related tasks. Baby boomers feel comfortable with traditional recruiting practices where they hole face-to-face interviews. They like formalized and well-structured environments, and since they grew up without digital communication, they often prefer to interact with others during group meetings.
As for the Generation Xers, whose members were born between 1965 to 1980, they prefer a working environment that emphasizes individual development (Hirsch, 2020). They also feel comfortable with a flexible working environment that allows them to manage their workload and provide them with psychological space. On the other hand, the millennials have digital skills and feel conformable working remotely of their duties can be accomplished outside the job environment. Lastly the Generation Z prefers a flexible workplace that supports diversity and social responsibility.
How can a manager effectively manage communication in a multi-generational workplace?
To effectively manage communication in a multinational work environment, it will be advisable for managers to study the needs of each generation in terms of the type of working environment they prefer, the kind of responsibilities that they can handle, ability to use different types of technologies, and motivation factors for each generation. With this knowledge, the manager will be able to develop the most appropriate communication strategies that best address the needs of the generation in question.
How can a manager effectively manage conflict in a multi-generational workplace?
Managers can effectively manage any possible conflict associated with a multi-generational work environment by conjointly bringing together all the generations to facilitate the development of universal norms for working together. By so doing, these will help to eliminate the feeling from other generations that they are less valued (Paychex, 2019). Managers also need to make use of strategies such as acknowledging and talking about existing generational differences. By appreciating each generation with equal measure regardless of their age, bract will help give the staff morale and perhaps reduce possible conflicts at the workplace. Finally, by resolving, flexing, and leveraging the strengths of each generation, it will be easy to eliminate chances of conflict eruption.
What are the most important concepts that you have learned in this course? What are the most important things you have learned about yourself?
I have acquired a wide range of concepts throughout the course and among these include extensive knowledge about various generations, their time of growth and development, and the differences between the generations. Besides that, I have also learned that the five generations discussed about having different tastes and preferences when to comes to workplace environments, how they wish to be managed, what motivates them, and the kind of benefits each generation provides a workplace environment with. I may also say that I have learned various concepts on effectively managing communication and conflicts in a multi-generational workplace environment.
References
Hirsch, A. S. (2020, February 28). How to manage intergenerational conflict in the workplace. SHRM. https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/employee-relations/pages/how-to-manage-intergenerational-conflict-in-the-workplace.aspx
Paychex. (2019, July 26). How to manage the 5 generations in the workplace. https://www.paychex.com/articles/human-resources/how-to-manage-multiple-generations-in-the-workplace
Pobre, M. (2020, July 7). 5 generations in the workplace to know. Techfunnel. https://www.techfunnel.com/hr-tech/generations-in-the-workplace/
Rice, D. (2021, January 28). Generations in the workplace. HR Exchange Network. https://www.hrexchangenetwork.com/employee-engagement/articles/generations-in-the-workplace