Cross-generational teams: Boon or Bane?

Cross-generational learning is imminent! One can be anyone, age no bar and yet inspire a team to cause ripples in the business world or literally hold screen space in zero-gravity. Each generation brings in certain values and skills to the team that they are a part of. Each ones working style is different but when this individual strength is combined it can create wonders in the modern workplace.

There are quite a few traits that make cross-generational teams a force to reckon with, let’s read about them here:

Experience, knowledge burst and patience thrive at work

Boomers have the core advantage of being the experienced team members who are in their 50s or 70s if they are still clocking the work hours or probably on the board as mentors. They bring leadership, expertise and excellent communication skills to the table. They are optimistic, prefer one-on-one interactions and know that research is the first step towards any task. They might be averse to using new technologies like SEO or algorithms and may prefer word-of-mouth publicity. They bring structure and worldly know-how to a project and always have the back of the entire team. Gen X and the other generations know that the Boomers are not the ones to faze easily when a project faces a lull. They teach the new kids on the block how to budget a project financially and also have a little something left to throw a fun party. Inclusivity and solving conflicts come easy to them. They also remind the team of ground reality and why being on the field gives you a better judgement on how to handle sales teams, vendors and crabby clients along with valuable insights into your products.

Grit and respect make for great work essentials 

Gen X is mostly skeptical of ideas but knows how to use the latest technology to benefit them. They are task-oriented, informal and risk-takers. Possibly between 35-45 years of age, Gen X dons the role of teachers when it comes to teaching the Boomers digital skills at the desk like social media and online marketing. They are the ones to set new trends, bring in new ideas, their networking skills are exceptional and their work-life balance game is on point. They respect their work and anyone who appreciates it. Once an idea takes their fancy, there is no going back. They will break the internet with it. They inspire teams to move out of their comfort zones and try new things. Respecting each other’s outlook and taking a neutral stand to office controversies is one of the trademarks of this generation and this promotes great existential vibes at work. 

No fear to coexist in an online & offline work culture

Millennials have no fear when it comes to accepting new rules though they might rebel if they do not fit their expectations. They want to explore the world on their own terms and bring in their own takeaways to a project. They will rally for causes and make it their own. Somewhere between 22 to 35 years of age, they are focused, avid multi-taskers and know how to turn a routine day into a productivity walkathon. Their enthusiasm is what sets them apart. Although their tolerance level is low, their relentless pursuit to achieve perfection is noteworthy in a team culture. They might not receive feedback amicably but they will always mull over it and come back stronger. This resilience helps when it comes to re-launching products with a revamped campaign. They are mostly mothered by Gen X and are the first ones to attend office huddles. Their spontaneity is difficult to match and their quirkiness adds the right spark to dull workplaces. 

Crashing norms and ready to dominate the corporate world 

The Gen Z workforce is the interns who want a taste of corporate life early on and are anywhere between 16 to 22 years of age. They bring the craziness to pitch decks, are laid back but always have an eye on the competition. Their inputs are purely based on profitable outputs and logic. They may not look like they concentrate much but in their minds, they already have a strategy in place. They prefer to work in silent silos unless pulled in to work as a team. They jump from one task to another seamlessly and love to be mentored by all the other generations, especially Gen X and the Boomers. Learning from others is probably their biggest flex. 

They say ‘Age is just a number’ and when you are driven by passion, you learn to form a rapport with anyone who shares the same ethic. This work ethic is what brings teams spanning different generations together working like a dream team together.