Four Processes To Thrive In A Multi-Generational Workplace

Gone are the days when there used to be two generations of people in the workplace - The long-serving old-timers and the ambitious newcomers. In today’s dynamic age and time, there can be as many a s 5 generations of  people working in a company. Being a new hire freshly out of one of the best PGDM College in Hyderabad, amidst such mixed ideologies can be a bit overwhelming.

Here is a list of 4 strategies that can help you ensure Multi-Generational Harmony once you enter into industry after completing your PGDM in Hyderabad:

 

1. Establish Respect

No matter how old or how experienced we are, everyone craves respect. The newcomers should respect the older generations' experience and seniority, whereas the long-servers need to respect and adjust to the potential and talent of the younger generations. Only when all the parties respect each other can they survive and thrive in the company.

The key to respecting a generation other than yours is to accept the fact that they are different from yours. Try to explore and understand what are the motivators for each generation, what experiences they have that can help you in the long run and try to learn good things from each generations’ working style.

2. Be Accommodating

“In Rome, do as Romans do.” Although, you may be exactly working in Rome but you got the point right? Try to understand each generation and when working with different people, be as accommodating as possible to their respective working style in order to avoid division and conflict. Each generation has its own needs and wants. They value different ways of working as opposed to your preferred way of work. Respecting each way and trying to be accommodative while making sure your own style of work is not getting compromised will help you become a good team player.

3. Steer Clear Of Stereotyping

It is very easy to stereotype when you believe in one ideology and others do not. You need to understand that everyone is unique in their own specific way and you need to accept people on the basis of their merits rather than as “Typical” members of a particular generation having a conflicting ideology. Steering clear of stereotyping will open a window of opportunity for you where you can explore new ideas and suggestions from other generations thus inculcating the positives in your own value system.

 

4. Learn From Others

Learning is a constant activity. Being the youngest generation in the workforce gives you an edge as you are a clean slate with the best an ability to adapt to anything that comes your way. The various generations of individuals have a huge wealth of experience and knowledge that you can tap into. Having an open mind towards this knowledge would not only help you avoid the mistakes they must have done in their career but will also help you create a working style that would ensure that you have adapted to best of all the generations.