Why Learning to Work with Younger Generations is so Important

Did you know that there are four generations in the workplace? That’s right! There are, and if you want to have a satisfying career, you have to learn how to work well with all of them. This can be challenging for many professionals. Why? Because each generation has a different way of looking at work and a different definition of accountability. This is causing a lot of friction between “old schoolers” and “new schoolers,” which can be detrimental to both your work relationships and productivity.

As a seasoned worker who’s had many years of experience in your field, it can be tough to watch someone straight out of college excel in front of your eyes, and it can be easy to shut down new, innovative ideas with the excuse “We’ve always done it this way.” What you might not realize, though, is that the frustration you’re feeling is being projected to your co-workers, especially those who you feel are overstepping their professional boundaries. You look intimidating to them, and instead of seeing you as a helpful resource, they see you as the grumpy, old co-worker who has a huge problem adjusting to the times. Your fellow employees aren’t the only ones who see you this way; employers will too, and this is where you run into further issues. If you allow this negative attitude to interfere with your work, people will notice, and trust me, it’s a bad look for you. It hurts your professional brand immensely and makes it harder for you to advance.

Organizations want professionals who are excited and willing to collaborate with employees of all ages because, in the end, it doesn’t matter how old you are – the only thing that matters is that you do a great job while working collaboratively with others.

-Wilbert C. Bryant, Jr.