Business coach helps close generation gaps

Four generations of men and women make up today’s work force, and if that weren’t enough to throw a wrench in communication, advancing technology is further widening the gap between generations.

So believes Lindee Brauer, a corporate trainer from Monument, who for four years has studied the issue.

“Multigenerational is a hot topic in the workplace,” she said. “The same technology that’s supposed to link us sometimes tears us apart.”

After 16 years owning a motivational-speaking company, Bauer six months ago joined Action Coach Business Coaching as a business development manager. She teaches companies techniques regarding time, money and team building through communication.

QUESTION: How did you get interested in this topic?

ANSWER: I started to study multigenerational issues when I was doing a working-women’s empowerment conference in Seattle. I noticed the breakdown in terminology in the fresh women versus the seasoned women, who were disconnecting but trying to say the same thing. Gender issues first came into play in the work force, now it’s an age issue, primarily around communication styles due to technology.

Q: What do you see happening?

A: The four generations — the traditionalists, baby boomers, Gen Xers and millennials — have different ways of thinking and communicating. Technology like the Internet, e-mails, instant messaging, cell phones and text messaging is changing the way the younger generations communicate, while the baby boomers and traditionalists still communicate to get to a face-to-face interaction. Millennials and Xers don’t necessarily have to meet a person or use the phone to conduct business.

Q: Why is this happening?

A: Communication used to be a private, two-way conversation. Everything’s changed with the Internet.

While you can teach technology and communication etiquette, the problem is that communication is a combination of perspective and effort. Perspective is how we see the world and is a product of our education, experience, family, culture, upbringing. That explains why we say the things we say and communicate the way we do.

Effort is how we communicate, and communication breaks down because people get tired of making the effort.

Q: How does it play out?

A: The older generations feel the younger generations don’t respect them because they don’t communicate in the same format.

‘Look at me while you’re talking,’ a traditionalist might say, when the millennial is putting information from the conversation into his Blackberry.

Gen Xers are known for changing jobs every couple of years because they have different expectations of the work force, based on their experiences. They are the boomers’ babies, the dot-com revolution. Traditionalists and boomers may not understand that perspective.

Q: What has technology done for communication?

A: We communicate by what we see, what sounds we hear, what words are used and the energy behind them. Therefore, face to face is the best form of communication because we get all four. The phone gives us the next-most accurate reading of a person. When we e-mail or text message, we only have the words.

Q: What are some characteristics of the different generations?

A: When traditionalists joined the work force, there were only men. Traditionalists believe in top-down management, loyalty and institution. They wonder why millennials aren’t loyal to companies. Millennials say there’s no pension for us in 30 years.

Baby boomers are known for the business of business. They’re independent, the me generation, and huge innovators. Boomers created the 60-hour work week. They believe you should love your work, and there’s no workand-play balance.

Gen Xers came back with the idea of balancing life and work.

They were the latchkey kids and grew up with microwave ovens, video games and personal computers. They’re now change agents who move their lives forward.

Millennials are out of college, entering the work force and have a perspective of entitlement.

They were raised on play dates and mom and dad doing everything for them. They bring a freshness and naiveté to the market. They have discretionary income.

Cuspers are those on the edge of two generations and have dual perspectives.

Q: What are some tips to avoid problems between the generations at work?

A: Initiate contact in the format you’re most comfortable with.

When someone opens dialogue with you, respond in the same format as originally executed.

When communication breaks down, change the format. Be open to others’ perspectives and what the different age groups have to offer.

Q: What happens if the generation gap isn’t closed?

A: Traditionalists miss the fresh, black-and-white perspective that young people without worldly experiences bring to the workplace.

They make us question every system and process and will say, ‘Why do it that way?’ The questions aren’t different — it’s just the first time we have four generations in the workplace.

Q: Given the different perspectives of the generations, is it possible to communicate effectively at work?

A: Absolutely. A collaborative work force in which all communication styles and ages are listened to and honored is attainable. People need to work on respecting other people’s perspectives. Don’t say “no” or “yes, but”; say “yes, and have you thought of this?”

That opens communication. Remember, traditionalists grew up with radio as mass communication, boomers the TV, Xers the Internet, and millennials have never had a time without cell phones and e-mails.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0235 or debbie.kelley@gazette.com. Questions

and answers are edited for space and clarity.

4 GENERATIONS AT WORK

Traditionalists (also called Veterans): born 1922-1943; ages 65 and older; 75 million in work force

Baby Boomers: born 1943-1960; ages 46 to 64; 80 million in work force

Gen Xers: born 1961-1980; ages 27 to 45; 46 million in work force

Millennials (also called Nexters or Y Generation): born 1980 to 2000; ages 7 to 27; 76 million in work force

SOURCE: Lindee Brauer, using excerpts from “Generations at Work” and “When Generations Collide”

DETAILS

Lindee Brauer, 45, is the author of two self-help books: “Barf Bag Wisdom: When What’s Inside Must Come Out” and “Grab Bag Wisdom: The Surprise is Inside.” She has three children, ages 15, 14 and 13.