Generational Conflict and Management: 4 tips to avoid mistakes
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2025 9:30 am
How does your company view the different generations that exist within it? As relevant as ever, talking about management and generations is a mandatory topic for those who deal with people. If we take into account that there is an increasing age gap in companies, the issue becomes even more complicated. In the same environment, it is possible to have employees from generation X, who have been with the company forever, and Millennials, who have been with the company for a few years and have extensive experience in newer professions. Oh, and then there are the interns, who belong to an even younger class of professionals. Given all this, it is challenging to think of a single management in such an eclectic environment. Sometimes, generational conflicts are inevitable. So, what are the main management tips to avoid losing control of employees?
That’s what we’re going to talk about in this article! Stay netherlands whatsapp data with us and enjoy your reading.
4 management tips for dealing with different generations
1 – Offer a common purpose
It’s not new that older generations see big differences between those entering the job market. To help break paradigms, a good management tip is to make teams have a common purpose. José Cláudio Securato, CEO of Saint Paul, explains that by making employees solve problems together, the company has a big gain:
“It’s very interesting when an organization encourages people to work together. This directly impacts the ‘breaking down of walls’ and produces surprising results,” he comments.
Another management tip is to develop a mentoring culture in the company, in which employees with more time at the company help newcomers. An example of this comes from Sodexo. The company implemented a mentoring program in which three experienced employees help newcomers.
2 – Promote horizontal communication
Communication is essential in the management process, especially when we talk about generational conflict . Younger people, in particular, expect it to happen in real time, in both directions and followed by immediate actions. At this point, Securato points out that for Millennials, the model of several levels of leadership and management, in which it is necessary to report to each of them, no longer holds up. With this hierarchy, there is likely to be a very large communication gap in the company. Technology companies emerge as a good example of dialogue in this relationship between management and generations. HubSpot, for example, conducts a survey with its employees every 90 days, mainly with Millennials. In addition, they use anonymous surveys on specific topics to engage comments and, with this, find solutions for continuous improvement.
That’s what we’re going to talk about in this article! Stay netherlands whatsapp data with us and enjoy your reading.
4 management tips for dealing with different generations
1 – Offer a common purpose
It’s not new that older generations see big differences between those entering the job market. To help break paradigms, a good management tip is to make teams have a common purpose. José Cláudio Securato, CEO of Saint Paul, explains that by making employees solve problems together, the company has a big gain:
“It’s very interesting when an organization encourages people to work together. This directly impacts the ‘breaking down of walls’ and produces surprising results,” he comments.
Another management tip is to develop a mentoring culture in the company, in which employees with more time at the company help newcomers. An example of this comes from Sodexo. The company implemented a mentoring program in which three experienced employees help newcomers.
2 – Promote horizontal communication
Communication is essential in the management process, especially when we talk about generational conflict . Younger people, in particular, expect it to happen in real time, in both directions and followed by immediate actions. At this point, Securato points out that for Millennials, the model of several levels of leadership and management, in which it is necessary to report to each of them, no longer holds up. With this hierarchy, there is likely to be a very large communication gap in the company. Technology companies emerge as a good example of dialogue in this relationship between management and generations. HubSpot, for example, conducts a survey with its employees every 90 days, mainly with Millennials. In addition, they use anonymous surveys on specific topics to engage comments and, with this, find solutions for continuous improvement.