Closing the Generation Gap at Work

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The generation gap for us was a real thing. It seriously affected the ability of some of our employees to work well together. Thanks to the Sweet Spot, that's no longer a problem.

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Sharon T.

Operations Manager, Optimizer

man mentoring woman

The generation gap for us was a real thing. It seriously affected the ability of some of our employees to work well together. Thanks to the Sweet Spot, that's no longer a problem.

OPT Profile

Sharon T.

Operations Manager, Optimizer

Improve inter-generational communication at work

Technology is both the problem and the solution when it comes to Boomers and Millennials effectively working together.

The Problem

  • There is a vast difference between the communication styles of Baby Boomers, Generation X’ers, and Millennials.
  • Technology is a major factor in these differences.
  • Millennials are often more comfortable with remote interactions such as text messages, while many Boomers prefer more personal interactions.
  • This can significantly impact relationships and productivity at work.

How the Sweet Spot Can Help

  • With a quick 10 minutes survey, the Sweet Spot helps workers from different generations better understand each other and work together.
  • We help you understand your motivational style and the type of work you’re wired for.
  • This fosters greater respect among co-workers, including those from different generations.
  • Job satisfaction, fulfillment, and productivity improves.

If you have ever worked with a Baby Boomer, a Generation X’er, and a millennial in the same workplace, you understand the vast differences in communication style that each of them have. Workers over the age of 40 have been accustomed to relating to coworkers more verbally or face-to-face, while the younger generation is more comfortable communicating from a distance via text messages and email.

It’s not hard to see how these differences in communication styles can cause gaps in understanding, and consequently gaps in cooperation. Sometimes it can even escalate to chaos, belittling, or blaming each other for inadequate comprehension. It can create a very bad employee situation that has to be solved in order to keep a normal working environment.

Many employees decline to confront their co-workers and may even resort to a more passive aggressive approach, which can foster a cold non-cooperative atmosphere. Other employees, on the other hand, can be more confrontational and more willing to be aggressive in getting the answers to their questions.

The soft-skills of human social dynamics and communication have been untaught and largely overlooked in the education process. Consequently, the younger generation, who may be very educated, finds a strange new world as they work alongside an older generation that has the hard-skills they need for the job but are unwilling to share the information. Both sides may lack patience for the growth necessary. Baby boomers may feel sweat equity is needed for millennials to get the respect they seek. The younger generation may feel the older co-worker is too slow and isn’t open to new ideas. A stalemate can occur and cooperation breaks down.

The younger generation, who may be very educated, finds a strange new world as they work alongside an older generation that has the hard-skills they need for the job but are unwilling to share the information

Technology shares part of the blame for the generation gap in today’s workplace. However, while it does contribute to today’s social isolation and poor communication, it also contributes to the solution. Through technology, we have created pathways for information to be easily shared between generations in an inoffensive and non-threatening process.

The Sweet Spot Survey takes just 10 minutes to complete and has been developed to connect people by helping them better understand themselves, as well as their coworkers. 

As a person begins to apply and live out the Sweet Spot “effect” in the workplace, greater understanding and acceptance happens. Respect for each other, greater productivity, harmony, and job satisfaction have new opportunities to exist.

Each of us has potential that may have been locked up or undiscovered. By knowing your purpose, you have an opportunity to reach your highest potential. Great progress comes through understanding and recognizing each person’s unique design and how it affects life and work.

When a person operates in their sweet spot, the effect is visible and positive.