Essential leadership skills: Managing a multigenerational workforce

A team of Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z? Sounds like chaos. Different age groups, different expectations and wildly different ways of communicating. But in reality, a combination of age groups also means a breadth of experience, ideas and perspectives.

Boomers bring decades of knowledge, Gen X thrives on independence, Millennials push for collaboration and Gen Z keeps things innovative. Blend all that, and you've got the perfect recipe for creativity, better decision-making and a high-performing team — provided you can manage the mix.

Understanding generational work styles

From the Baby Boomers to Gen Z, employees universally agree that work-life balance matters. Beyond that, agreements become more sparse. For instance, people in their 20s tend to prioritise gratitude, recognition and relationships with their co-workers. Those in their 30s typically place hybrid and flexible arrangements as top dog, whereas employees over 50 might care more about management styles. Competing priorities, much?

Then there's communication. Older generations might feel more comfortable picking up the phone or emailing, while younger generations tend to lean into Slack or Google Chat. The idea here is not to box employees into age-related groups — people are more than their generation. Instead, it's about recognising the patterns within your team players so you know what you're working with.

Bridging the generation gap

So, how do you make a generationally diverse team perform well together? Create spaces for collaboration where everyone's strengths shine. Cross-generational projects, team-building activities and mentorship programs all help foster understanding.

It's also a good idea to set clear expectations around communication — defining email response times or agreeing on which platforms to use. With clear, universally understood communication channels in place, you're on solid grounds to keep ramping up collaboration.

Managing differing expectations

From career growth to work-life balance, what employees expect from the workplace varies wildly across generations. Here's the catch — nobody's needs or expectations matter more than anybody else's. Yet, the goal is still to create an environment where all employees can thrive.

I like to set aside time for a meeting where everyone can come together to discuss their ideal workplace environment, including:

• Feedback and reviews: Is a monthly check-in sufficient, or should it be weekly?
• Working styles: Does your team prefer to work independently or collaboratively? Are there ways to set up projects or communication channels to cater to both?
• Communication expectations: Which matters should be a quick ping, and which require more formal communication?
• Flexible working arrangements: How much flexibility does the team have, and does it support their work styles?

Of course, having this conversation doesn't mean everyone will get exactly what they want — and it doesn't mean you necessarily have the authority to grant it. But it allows for three critical things to happen:

1. It shows you're aware and prepared to seek solutions proactively.
2. Different team members can gain an understanding of one another's working styles.
3. You open the floor for your team to identify and help one another resolve workplace challenges.

Encouraging reverse mentoring

Traditional mentoring involves senior employees guiding younger ones — but what if it went both ways? Reverse mentoring allows younger employees to share insights on technology, social trends and new ways of working while senior employees provide wisdom, industry knowledge and leadership advice.

This role reversal builds mutual respect, which sets the stage for collaboration. Remember, embracing diversity is the foundation of a powerful and successful team.

Embrace diversity with ICML

Managing a multigenerational team means recognising and playing to each person's strengths. By embracing generational differences and nurturing collaboration, you'll create a high-performing team that thrives because of diversity.

Want to sharpen your leadership skills further? Check out our Essential Leadership Skills course.