Managing employees from different generations in Corporate America, commonly referred to as cross-generational management, presents its own set of challenges. The employees in today’s workforce are generally made up of three generations of employees: Baby boomers (born approximately between 1946 and 1964), Generation X (born approximately between 1965 and 1981) and Generation Y/Millennials (born approximately between 1982 and 2001). Managing multigenerational workforces requires a high degree of flexibility and versatility. As a manager, a great deal of your success depends on your ability to adopt and adjust to this mindset.

1. Emphasize Commonalities

Emphasize common goals employees share rather than focus on their differences. When everyone is working to achieve the goals of the organization, it automatically creates a commonality. Developing good teamwork will help overcome many of the generational differences that naturally exist.

2. Recognize Contributions

It is important to consider and recognize individual contributions which include knowledge, talent and experience. Each member of your team has something unique to bring to the table. Equally important is to encourage employees to willingly share their knowledge and experience with others.

3. Be Accommodating

Be willing and able to accommodate various learning styles, as they vary among the different generations. For example, Boomers are more likely to be comfortable with traditional methods of learning such as books and presentations. Younger generations are more likely to be comfortable with high-tech, interactive methods of learning. The important thing is to keep employees engaged.

4. Facilitate Training

Whether it be through formal training seminars or a mentoring system, it is vital for the three generations to learn to recognize and adapt to the differences. This will likely start the ball rolling for cross-generational interaction and the development of new business skills. There is much that can be learned from what each generation has to offer. Younger employees can offer fresh and unique perspectives, while older employees can offer experience and wisdom.

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