The Importance of Generational Connections

The Importance of Generational Connections

There are clichés, and there are realities. Sometimes, these categories overlap. Young thinkers are “known” to be quick, creative, boundless and more elastic in their thinking. Older thinkers are often expected to be more set in their ways, but also tempered by experience and the knowledge of many questions younger people have yet to learn.

Too often these differences are seen as counterpoints, reasons to contrast rather than complement each other. These “contrasts” are then used as critical wedges in often ill-advised “think pieces” that “explain” why this or that “known quality” is bad or wrong … as well as how to “fix” or “work around” it.

Forget all that.

Instead, think of the natural generational attributes and perspectives as opportunities, ways to become better than the sum of your parts. When you realize the power of connection between the generations, it can unlock new perspectives and elevate the lid that might be holding you back. This is why, no matter which side of the generational divide you reside on — or, indeed if you’re in the middle — you need to connect with members of the other group.

The first step in this process is intentional communication.

Members of both groups need to seek each other out, to talk more, understand better.

Younger leaders need to accurately and succinctly quantify and express what they bring to the table. They need to have understood value. Often, older leaders may read about how young people are making “real progress” in their fields, or that they are “globally connected using technology” or “understand social interaction” or “how Millennials think” without really being able to quantify those qualities.

Unfortunately, younger leaders often do a poor job of explaining.

Because they grew up surrounded by these technologies and global realities, they don’t really “know” how to explain their significance.

They just “are.” Think about it, Boomer, how would you explain driving a stick shift to someone who’s never been in a car equipped with one? You can talk about it until you’re blue in the face, but until you actually sit in the car and let them experience it, they won’t “get it.” The same can be said for social media. Boomers are using it by the tens of millions, but they will never really understand it in the way Millennials do. Social media will always feel “new” to them, though, to a 30-year-old, it’s been around all of their adult life.

These are just a few examples of inherent differences both sides need to understand how to better talk about. If the generations are going to come together to build a better business or even a better world, they need to learn how to understand each other.

Phil Shawe is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of TransPerfect.