The Generational Divide

In my most recent speakingengagements, I’ve noticed that there’s increasing concern over the generational divide in the workplace. This has popped up in a few of my coaching sessions as well (1-2-1, family, parent, teen), but it’s a more consistent fear in organizations.

It’s no secret that there’s a growing generational gap in the employment force - as of this year, Gen Z has overtaken the baby boomers as the largest generation in the workforce. The Boomers are tired of Gen Z and their energy and new use fo technology. Gen Z is tired of Baby Boomers and their outdated views and resistance to change. Gen X and Millenials are just in the middle of it all hanging on for dear life.

This becomes even more challenging when the older generations tend to have the most senior positions and therefore the most power - but the largest share of the workforce is the youngest generation. Older generations are alienating the younger ones, and losing workers. The younger generations are increasingly independent and finding ways to make their own money without depending on a larger organization that doesn’t align with their values, crippling many small and large businesses.

So how are organizations supposed to handle this? How do they bridge the gap?

This has been the focus of a few of my past, and some of my future speaking engagements. At a keynote for leadership in Fairfax later this year, as well as at RYLA (the rotary youth leadership program) I’ll be speaking about organizational divides, and how corporations, organizations, and companies of any size can bridge the generational gap - as well as offering my coaching services for hire, should people find they want more help following these keynotes.

Most large companies (think Apple or Amazon sized) have a team of industrial and organizational psychologists, dedicated to this sort of thing. Though I’m no psychologist, I have a doctorate in leadership and am more than qualified to help smaller companies learn how to bridge these caps and defeat the damage created by these generational divides.

As a coach, I can enter organizations with a fresh set of eyes and see where the problems lie. I can validate people when it’s needed, and provide a reality check where it fits. As an outsider, it’s also easier for me to bridge the gap than it is for people who are currently in the fray.

The generational gap is ever present and won’t go away anytime soon - this cycle will start over with Gen X and Gen Alpha next. So learn to tackle these issues now. Learn to tackle it with this generational gap, and implement practices to prevent it from happening again. And if you have no idea where to start, reach out to me for a conversation. We can talk about curating a workshop, a keynote, or something else to help you and your organization bridge these gaps and reach optimal functioning.