Post by Amy Blais, contributing Women On Business writer
In recent years as the workforce diversifies, many offices have become intergenerational. Managing a staff diverse in age, background, experience, and motivation can be challenging. However, as a CEO, it is important to utilize the resources that different generations bring from their varied experiences.
In an intergenerational workplace environment, communication is necessary and even critical. Generations may work and communicate in different ways. Entrepreneurs should encourage employees of different experience levels and with different expertise to work together, and use this as an opportunity. The role of the CEO is to integrate the staff; they are on the same team, with different perspectives that can be used to the advantage of the company.
More seasoned employees can take their management skills and experience to be resourceful, take the lead, and delegate tasks around the office. Newer employees, with different generational perspectives, are a great resource for the social media craze. This internet savvy generation can use their knowledge of Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Analytics, and other social media for the business. Instead of looking outside your staff to hire someone new for these tasks, use the resources you already have, the most significant being your staff.
It is important that there is no hierarchy of generations in an office. Age should not dictate power or authority. At the end of the day, the contributions that an employee makes are what matters. Collaborative interactions between generations will benefit business all around. Be aware of the differences in generations, but do now dwell on it. Motivate employees to work together.
With layoffs looming in the economy, there should be no fear of threats from either side of the generational spectrum. Enhance the values, contributions, and skills that each generational category brings and find balance between generations to ensure your staff works as a succinct team. It is not about the years of experience one has, but the knowledge and expertise they bring to the business because of their experiences.
Susan Gunelius
Susan Gunelius is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Women on Business. She is a 30-year veteran of the marketing field and has authored a dozen books about marketing, branding, and social media, including the highly popular Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing, 30-Minute Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing for Dummies, Blogging All-in-One for Dummies and Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps. Susan’s marketing-related content can be found on Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, MSNBC.com, BusinessWeek.com, and more. Susan is President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc., a marketing communications company. She has worked in corporate marketing roles and through client relationships with AT&T, HSBC, Citibank, Intuit, The New York Times, Cox Communications, and many more large and small companies around the world. Susan also speaks about marketing, branding and social media at events around the world and is frequently interviewed by television, online, radio, and print media organizations about these topics. She holds an MBA in Management and Strategy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and is a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).
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