As the world of work continues to change and generations shift, individuals seek employment and switch jobs more than ever before, leading to a diverse, multigenerational workforce.
With the continuous rise in technology, our workforce and world are becoming more globalized, including a diverse team of employees with a range of ages—from baby boomers to Generation Z-ers, bringing with them a varied set of perspectives, communication styles, and work habits. Each generation presents different skills and experiences which employers need to manage if they are to navigate this.
Organizations that realized that diversity translates to profitable businesses have developed an environment that supports collaboration among all age groups. Through recognizing each generation’s strengths and contributions they can make, you will be better equipped to motivate your workforce for maximum success.
When your company understands how to manage generational gaps effectively, you hold an advantage when recruiting and hiring talent. Here are four steps to assist with managing your multigenerational workforce:
- Establish a Retention Plan
- Embrace Varying Communication Styles
- Improve Feedback Techniques
Establish a Retention Program
Employee turnover can be costly while putting a strain on your organization’s daily operations. By effectively creating employee retention practices, your company can address some of the issues affecting team members, leading to their resignation. Your retention plan should start with a thorough assessment of your current situation, and it will serve as a roadmap for your company’s overall retention improvement plan.
Embrace Varying Communication Styles
You will notice that with a multigenerational work team, different generations will value different communication styles, and it is essential that your company’s leaders understand their preferences. For instance, Millennials choose to communicate digitally while Baby Boomers prefer phone calls; therefore, by embracing various communication styles, you will be better able to interact with them. It also fosters learning, whereby multiple generations can learn and grow from each other.
Improve feedback Techniques
In addition to embracing various communication styles, it is vital that you align your feedback techniques with your employees’ preferences. By taking a more personalized approach, you can deliver meaningful feedback to each employee. It eliminates age-based assumptions and addresses your team’s needs because it shows that you took the time to listen to their needs. This will increase employee morale and open communication lines, which in turn will improve engagement and performance.
Final Thoughts
For companies to successfully manage their multigenerational workforce, there must be flexibility and openness in every age group. By embracing generational diversity and the diverse workforce’s viewpoints and cultures, your company stands to benefit from increased productivity, innovation, enhanced decision-making, and retention, leading to better-served clients and a path towards company success.
Stay tuned to our next blog to learn more about the importance of diversity in times of crisis!
Let us help!
If you are ready to take the next step towards managing an age-diverse workforce, our ITS Global expert team will help you with your recruitment needs.