Make age diversity a strength in your workplace
A mix of generations means a mix of skills.
But managing differences in experience, perspective and expectations can bring a whole new challenge.
Only 23% of organisations surveyed considered their managers very confident in leading multigenerational teams.
But it's a challenge worth tackling.
Age diversity can be a real advantage for businesses, and supporting individual employees can help bring out the best in everyone.
Here are five tips for bringing different generations together as one team.
Recognise individual strengths
Employees of different ages bring various skills and perspectives, but avoid assuming what they are based on their generation. Set time aside to get to know your team, their strengths and what motivates them.
You might find an employee with decades of industry experience knows how to handle difficult situations, while someone newer to the workforce could offer a fresh perspective on an established process that was probably due an update.
Use what you learn when assigning tasks or putting teams together. Pair employees with complementary strengths on projects, giving everyone the opportunity to contribute their skills and work towards more creative solutions.
Encourage knowledge sharing
Get your team talking. It's not just the older staff members who have wisdom to share. Employees from all generations have plenty they can learn from each other.
Bring employees together through mentoring partnerships, collaborative projects and opportunities to share skills. This could be as simple as asking employees to demonstrate a skill during a team meeting or pairing colleagues together when introducing a new process.
Encouraging this exchange can support professional development and strengthen working relationships. 81% of UK employers identified better knowledge sharing as a benefit of multigenerational teams. When employees appreciate what their colleagues bring to the table, working together becomes a whole lot easier.
Offer flexibility wherever possible
Your team members may have different responsibilities and commitments. Some may balance work with childcare, while others are studying alongside their work.
Instead of guessing commitments based on age, ask employees about their availability and scheduling preferences. You can then look at offering flexible arrangements wherever possible.
It's all about being fair and consistent, whilst keeping in mind your team's individual needs. Thoughtful shift planning can improve job satisfaction and help retain your best employees.
Create clear, fair and accessible rotas so managers can organise shifts around availability, and employees can swap shifts if they ever find themselves in a tight spot.
Adapt your communication
One approach doesn't work for everyone. Find out how your team prefers to receive information and feedback to make sure you're communicating expectations clearly.
Encourage open conversations so everyone feels comfortable asking questions or sharing their thoughts. Consider sharing important updates both verbally and in writing, giving everyone the opportunity to stay informed.
Offer constructive feedback and listen carefully to any concerns. Good communication helps prevent misunderstandings and keeps everyone working towards shared goals.
Create an inclusive workplace culture
The most important part of managing differences is making sure they don't define the team. It's about challenging stereotypes and making sure all employees, regardless of age, feel respected and included.
Make sure everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute, too. Encourage quieter team members to share their ideas and address any age-related comments that could leave colleagues feeling excluded.
Why not put two very different team members on a shift together and see how well they work? Sometimes that's all it takes to create opportunities for new conversations, fresh ideas and stronger working relationships.
This can create a sense of belonging that boosts morale and encourages employees to stay.
Managing a multigenerational workforce isn't about putting each age group into a separate box and labelling them by common interests. Having a diverse team gives you the chance to recognise individual strengths, support different needs and encourage collaboration.
Get to know your team inside and out to create a united workplace where everyone feels valued, benefiting both employees and the business.