TIP 2523 – Managing the Age Gap

2025-08-17

Listen to today's podcast... What does the makeup of your team look like? Are they mostly from the Baby Boomer or Generation X era? Do you have any Gen Y’s or even Millennials working for you? For the first time in contemporary history, there are four generations in the workforce — Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z. With employees ranging in age from their late teens to their 70s, leaders must tailor their management styles to fit their multi-generational workforce, who work with dif...

Listen to today's podcast...

What does the makeup of your team look like?

Are they mostly from the Baby Boomer or Generation X era?

Do you have any Gen Y’s or even Millennials working for you?

For the first time in contemporary history, there are four generations in the workforce — Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z.

With employees ranging in age from their late teens to their 70s, leaders must tailor their management styles to fit their multi-generational workforce, who work with different value sets and expectations of each other.

This age difference can make it a bit more challenging for leaders to handle.

Take One Action Today To Build Your #Resiliency!

Here are today’s Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating our diverse workforce on Baby Boomer Recognition Day

Don’t confuse your teams by phrasing orders as suggestions: Boomer managers are often reluctant to give clear, direct, specific instructions. Although you really mean “Do it,” often we use phrases such as “You might want to consider…”, or “Have you thought about…” Gen Xers and New Millennials (Gen Yers) hear these as suggestions. They’re caught off guard when you’re later surprised to find out they didn’t carry out your directive in they way that you intended.
Talk with them about more than just work.
Be a leader, not a friend: Knowing and being interested in your employees isn’t the same as becoming their friends. What they’re looking for is a role model, a mentor, and a leader—not a buddy.
Reward good work quickly: Gen X and Y employees are used to instant feedback and gratification.
Think knowledge exchange, not knowledge transfer. As technology changes, your younger generations have the upper hand and experience. Allow them to shine as they show others how to adapt.

With 4 generations in the workplace, a strong leader can juggle these vastly different expectations, communication needs, and views about the workplace.

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Looking for more ways to build your resiliency? Take my free on-line resiliency test at worksmartlivesmart.com under the resources and courses tab.

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