In today’s diverse workplaces, bridging the generation gap has never been more important. A number of articles will address this topic in the March issue of “Employee Assistance Report” (EAR). Below is an excerpt from one of them To learn more, visit http://www.writeitrightllc.com or email mjacquart@writeitrightllc.com.
* When it comes to using technology don’t say, “There’s nothing to it”! Boomers did not grow up with the technology that younger people take for granted. It’s true some Boomers, like Millennials, use a lot of technological tools – others, very few – and still others, like me, lie somewhere in between. It’s also true that some Boomers pick up new things quickly, but kindly acknowledge that some of us do not! We’ll “get it,” given time and practice, but don’t say, “There’s nothing to it” and leave us on our own to figure it out. Show us, don’t just tell us.
* Show us what to do in stages, don’t just “click around” on a monitor, and assume we’ll understand. When someone in their 20s or 30s shows me something on a computer, they will show me much too quickly, and the steps they took to get from point A to point B aren’t nearly clear enough. In my view, this reflects several generational differences.
- As we age, our Baby Boom brains just don’t think as quickly as they used to. Well, mine anyway! I will likely “get it,” but it’ll take me longer to understand what it is that you’re telling me. Don’t show me so fast. Take your time.
- Along similar lines, please explain what you are doing. Many of us Boomers can find website navigation difficult. We might get one of your “clicks,” on a given web page, but if there are multiple steps, it’s a good bet that we might get lost or confused if we’re left to “connect the dots” on our own.
- If there are steps, kindly write them down (or email them to us) so we have something to refer to until we are more familiar with the process.
By better working together, we can overcome generational barriers in the workplace!