Bridging Gen Z and Boomer Gaps at Work

In an insightful article for Global Trade, Rich Birke, chief architect of JAMS Pathways, discusses strategies for managing the growing age diversity in the professional workforce. With workers entering the workforce at younger ages and retiring later, the age gap between junior and senior employees is widening. Birke highlights how these differences can be harnessed to enhance productivity and create value.

Drawing from his experience as a law professor, Birke emphasizes the importance of leveraging generational differences. He notes,

"Crossing age boundaries gracefully allows more experienced employees to mentor younger ones, while younger employees bring new information and skills to help senior employees stay fresh."

However, he also acknowledges the challenges, such as mismatched communication styles leading to trust issues and reduced productivity.

To mitigate these challenges, Birke offers three practical tips for managers:

1. Start Learning: Invest in learning about multi-generational workforces and essential skills like cross-cultural communication and interest-based negotiation.
2. Communicate: Hold team meetings to discuss communication preferences and ensure psychological safety, allowing diverse approaches to coexist.
3. Leverage Outside Resources: Consider hiring professional facilitators like JAMS Pathways to address complex workplace issues, just as you would for other specialized services.

For more insights and detailed strategies from Rich Birke on managing generational diversity in the workplace, read the full article here.