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There is a generation gap in the workplace. This is nothing new. However, there is one area that can help bridge the generation gap and that area is technology. There are many stereotypes about Generation Y, some good, some not so good, but no one will dispute the fact that Generation Y is the most technologically advanced generation ever. It is mind boggling how many gadgets there are out there that Generation Yers utilize every day and how many websites there are that cater to “The Millennials.” It’s difficult for a member of an older generation to keep up with new technology and to keep up with the new social media sites that keep popping up but these are exactly the areas that can help Generation Y close the generation gap at work.
A few weeks ago I was in a department store in Los Angeles and the woman who was helping me (she was probably about 60 years old), was having trouble ringing up the sale on her computer. She summoned one of her twentysomething colleagues and he solved the problem quickly. You could tell that computers weren’t her thing but I observed something that needs to take place more in the workplace-I observed a member of Generation Y transform from student to teacher. He was able to solve a problem for his older co-worker because of his superior knowledge of technology and in the process, showed her that he was a team player. Hopefully, she appreciated his help and now sees an opportunity to continue this new technological relationship which could potentially help them communicate more and learn more about each other.
More and more Baby Boomers are joining the technological revolution but we are still in the minority. Simply put, we did not grow up with technology like Generation Y has. For a good part of my corporate career, I worked in an office without computers, fax machines, calculators, PDA’s, the internet, and cell phones. Today, these are all taken for granted. I was recently at a party and was talking with my friend’s 13 year-old niece about her cell phone and BlackBerry®. She was discussing the attributes of the new versions of these gadgets like she was discussing the weather. I had a flashback to when I was 13 and I think that color television was just starting to become commonplace. Yes, times have changed.
My point is that if you are a member of Generation Y and you work with Baby Boomers, and even members of Generation X, use your technological knowledge to your advantage. Offer suggestions on how to join social networking media sites, especially if it can help your company publicize their successes. Ask your older co-workers if they have a profile on Facebook or MySpace and if not, explain to them the benefits of having a profile. Use technology as an excuse to get to know your older co-workers better because studies have found that members of different generations at work just don’t communicate as much as they need to. In the end, you will feel good about helping someone else and they will see you as more than that “young whippersnapper” in the corner cubicle.
Several months ago, I interviewed for a very high-level job. I was told that they needed someone who was an expert in new media. I truthfully told them that I was not as knowledgeable as I should be in this area and that was the end of that. Today, I have a profile on Facebook, a lens on squidoo, and my own website. I’m contemplating joining Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and Digg, and I just started a blog on Blogspot. A few months ago, I had never even heard of half of these sites. I guess it proves that you can teach an old Baby Boomer dog new tricks. So, go ahead, strike up a conversation about the latest gadgets and websites with your older co-workers. Get to know them better so that they can get to know you better. Perhaps you can close the generation gap at work just a bit. Personally, I’m thinking about getting the new iPhone. I think I’ll ask my friend’s niece for her advice.
Andy Teach is the author of the new career advice book, From Graduation to Corporation: The Practical Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder One Rung at a Time.
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Wow this is a great article.
I'm so happy when I know there's more and more Boomers who embraced new technology.
I most certainly can relate to the whole Boomers and Gen Y gap, and its huge. Being the youngest and only Generation Y in the office where the average age is probably post GenX closing to Boomers, I have somehow become the unofficial IT support. Real IT support is usually busy
Sure I probably can't rewired people's computer together but in terms of getting emails sorted correctly, files in perfect order, mobile phones working as how it should be, Excel chart this, presentation that, report this and that, the list goes on to even sorting out "how to scan and print".
The good news is I do save a lot of people some times as they become more efficient. Probably saved on cost too. One of my favourite was when a top management person called me directly to ask how to print XYZ. Out of more than 500 people in the building, he called me the new hire. My heart skipped a beat because I felt useful that day.
The bad news is there's that expectations that we have to know it all. I also think while it's nice to be known as a tech-wiz in the office, I'd like to be considered useful around the office because of the job i've accomplished and projects i delivered in perfect execution. Not so much because "she's good with the computer, let's keep her around because i need my emails sorted." I always have that fear somehow.
In the mean time, small step at a time and I shall prevail. =)
What are some ways that Millenials and Gen X can connect?
@Anastassia-Thanks for the compliment. I think it's great that people go to you for unofficial tech support. It means that they value your knowledge and expertise, even if you're not the official IT person. This also means that employees can count on you and in today's tough economic climate where so many people are getting laid off, it's vitally important to be seen as being a valuable asset to the company, which you are. I understand what you're saying in regards to being known as "the computer person" but if you also continue to do a great job with your daily responsibilites, that will be noticed, too.
@KateNonymous-Obviously, there is less of a gap between Millennials and Gen X than there is between Millennials and Baby Boomers. In fact, older Millennials and younger Gen Xers are probably very similar in their work attitudes. Gen X in many ways rebelled against the do-or-die work ethic of Baby Boomers and this attitude has also influenced Gen Y.
Gen X was there at the inception of the home computer and the internet. To answer your question, I would suggest finding common ground and yes, technology is one area, but I suspect there are others including wanting to work in a more collegiate, casual environment. I would also suggest finding out what the interests of Gen Xers are outside of work and try to strike up a conversation with them regarding these interests. No matter what generation we're talking about, communication is key. Many studies have found that members of different generations just don't communicate with each other enough so just keep the communication lines open.
"My point is that if you are a member of Generation Y and you work with Baby Boomers, and even members of Generation X, use your technological knowledge to your advantage."
Be very careful with this. Some of us Boomers have been into technology for the past 30+ years. Don't forget that many of us Boomers were behind the creation of the Internet, have essentially written the basic underpinnings of software as we know it, and have pioneered the hardware as it stands today.
So when you extol the virtues of social media, web conferencing, VOIP, cellphones, texting, remember some of us have designed, engineered and deployed these systems for awhile and have a far greater understanding of its promise and pitfalls.
@jrandom42-You are correct by saying "some" Boomers have been into technology for a while and have developed much of the software and hardware. I didn't mean to downplay the contributions of my fellow Boomers but I'm referring to the average Boomer and the average Millennial. My point is that based on my own personal observations, today's technology and social media are utilized more and are understood more by a greater percentage of Millennials vs. Boomers. I can guarantee you that the saleswoman who was having trouble with her computer has never heard of Twitter and probably doesn't have a profile on Facebook or MySpace. Yes, many Boomers are BlackBerry and iPhone proficient but I just think that a lot of today's technology and social media are more embedded in the psyche of Gen Y vs. the Boomers.
I was constantly emailed and talked to in the hallways by an enthusiastic young helpdesk operator, who was always extolling the virtue of Google Docs, and how it could save the company so much money.
Since we do a good deal of work for the US and foriegn governments, I pointed out Section 11 in the terms of services, where Google asserts the right to distribute your documents, and share them with other companies, "for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the Additional Terms of those Services." or "for the provision of syndicated services, and to use such Content in connection with the provision of those services."
I then asked him if he would like to explain to the South Korean Intelligence Service or to the Defense Intelligence Agency, why we would allow any other company access to documents under any circumstances, that we had to sign a state secrets agreement in order to do the work, which means no one without proper security clearance and need to know sees them, or shares them without prior permission. Failure to do so incurs Federal charges under the Patriot Act.
Apparently he didn't think that part through. I invited him to make his case to our DIA contracting officer, but he declined.
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Being a student and having a full time job during the summer I use my technological knowledge to my advantage. I’m not a computer genius, but growing up in a technology-saturated world I can’t help but get acquainted with all of the new gizmos that are coming out. In both settings I use being a member of Generation Y to my advantage. At work I help my boss with using the touch screen computers at the restaurant I work at during the summer. During school I help some of my professors use the Audio Visual equipment in the classroom. In both setting my knowledge of technology helps break the gap between our two generations.
To my fellow “Generation Yers,” be patient with seasoned generations because one day we are going to be in their shoes. The way technology in advancing these days the iPhone is going to be like Morse code in 50 years. Keep that in mind!
@jrandom42-you make a good point, sometimes it's not enough to be technologically advanced because that can only take you so far-you have to be able see the big picture, too.
@Josh-it's great that you are using your tech knowledge to help close the generation gap and to help others. Btw, the way technology is advancing, the iPhone is going to be like Morse code in 50 weeks, not 50 years!
@jrandom42
I like the fact that when you're presented with the idea that didn't work, you explained it to your young helpdesk operator why it didn't work. A little sarcastic from my point of view, but at least you explained it to him/her why it wouldn't work. If he didn't appreciate it now because you made him feel stupid, he probably will be later on because at least now he realised he should have thought about "the big picture" Andy coined in his comment. Let's hope that the next time this young person comes up with a great idea, he researched things through from all angles.
To me that's a good learning experience.
We are patient with the older generations who don't know how to organise their email addressed, please be patient with us generation Y, we have great ideas but sometimes we KNOW we get too bizarre because of our age showing (too positive, too driven, too energetic, too happy, out to please, the list goes on).
My manager sometimes shot down the ideas that I have, he gave me reasons why doing XYZ may not work which is great. However, some are actually taken into board and implemented after being discussed further. Overall I think it's a great learning experience and I appreciate him very much for it. As a Generation Y, I believe that learning should be done in every opportunity possible and I have learnt a lot in my job.
"We are patient with the older generations who don't know how to organise their email addressed"
I'm curious to know how many people have this problem. In the years I've been working--since before e-mail was a universal business tool, by the way--I've met exactly one person who seriously did not and could not use e-mail.
One of the most valuable things I've learned is that my ideas are just that--mine. There are other ideas. So many, in fact, that the odds are fairly good that someone else's idea is better than mine, for one reason or another. It sounds like you're learning that, too, and I commend you for that. It can be a tough lesson, but having a manager who listens to you when you have them is really helpful, because he or she can help you understand why some ideas that seem great may not be, and how other ideas may need just a tweak or two to make them work really well.
@KateNonymous
I was being hypocrytical with the email remarks. It could may as well be "they don't know how to use twitter or Linkedin, etc" if that's more acceptable?
The main subtext is the same in all cases, and it certainly wasn't to claim older generations can't use a bloody email but merely that they're having more difficulty with some technology than generation Ys who can step right in.
I could pick an example direct from work, but I don't want to make an example out of any particular Boomers I worked with because they're great people which I respect very much.
@Anastassia, I wonder if you mean for your response to sound as defensive as it does. If so, wouldn't it be better if there were a reason for you to be defensive? Thank goodness I can provide some!
Your comment is very hard to follow because of your word choices. Why "hypocritical"? It doesn't seem to apply. Perhaps you mean "hypothetical," which has a very different meaning--but, frankly, would also be an odd choice because it doesn't really apply. Why "subtext" when you mean "message"? And I think you mean "they're great people who I respect very much." People get "who." Things get "that" or "which."
If you want to say that people are unfamiliar with new technologies or techniques (Twitter is not a new technology, by the way; it's a new use of existing technology), then your point will be better served if your examples are of technologies and techniques that actually are new.
Haha that's my non English background showing. Oops. It's that bad isn't it.
My apology if it didn't get expressed correctly as how i thought it should be as most often that not i literally translate between languages without realising the sentence don't match.
I have watched you with some respect in the Brazen Community and consider you as someone with sounding judgment commentary. So from your recommendation, I'm pretty sure you nailed what I meant but was just trying to let me know I didn't express it quite right. This is a good thing because its a known weakness of mine.
The only defensive part i'd like to claim is the defense that i did not wish to say older generations can't use emails because that's not what i think. My generalisation was only for finding a HYPOTHETICAL (thanku) example. Probably not the best example as you have mentioned, but still.. that was the general idea.
Ta.
=)
Quite all right. I probably would have worded things differently if I had realized that English was not your first language; my apologies for that! I studied Spanish for many years but haven't used it in ages, so I have no doubt that I would not do nearly as well with it as you are doing with English.
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