Workers of different generations At one of my previous workplaces, I saw conflict between a Baby Boomer supervisor and a

Workers of different generations

At one of my previous workplaces, I saw conflict between a Baby Boomer supervisor and a Millennial subordinate that somehow depicted intergenerational conflict. The problem was in the communication and in how the results or effectiveness of a strategy was informed to the other party. While the manager scheduled and consistently arranged to meet to discuss performance and expectations face to face, the Millennial employee preferred instant, informal communication using tools such as email or messenger. This contributed to frustration from both the manager’s side and the employee's because the manager saw the employee as impulsive and unwilling to adhere to conventional processes while the employee felt that he/she was not consulted or observed as the feedback was scarcely given. In retrospect, I think that some ideas from the unit lesson could actually help in reality. For instance, the manager could have improved adaptive communication by using more digital items such as messengers, chats, or project management tools to share updates and feedback. This would have been more suitable with the employee since he preferred to be informed through rapid communication.

Certainly, another effective approach could have been providing the employee with constant feedback constructively and ensuring that he or she feels a part of the team. Moreover, the practice of intergenerational training could have increased appreciation for each other’s roles and the talent within each other; for example, the employee may have been able to see how the manager had the technical know-how of the business while the manager could see how the employee adapted quickly to the virtual environment as a digital-generation employee. These strategies would have not only doused the conflict situation but also built more synergy and company morale.