I really like the point you bring up here @damayantichowdhury09! It is so easy to slip into using labels like boomer or gen Z as if that explains a whole person. We have probably all done it at some point. It feels quick and harmless, but the risk is that we stop seeing our colleagues for who they really are.
If I look at real ecosystems in nature, they do not thrive because everyone stays in their own group. They thrive because there is symbiosis. Each part brings something different that makes the whole stronger. Workplaces are no different. The magic happens when we actually use those complementary strengths instead of defaulting to stereotypes.
Respect is a good baseline, but I feel what really shifts the game is curiosity. Am I willing to meet this colleague as a person rather than a category? That is where the real collaboration and learning start. 
Excellent points here, @damayantichowdhury09. The use of those labels reminds me of the need for our brains to neatly categorise people. It’s an understandable impulse, but not one that serves a lot of purpose when we’re actually working with (and getting to know) people.
There are of course, as you note here, very good reasons for acknowledging the diversity of ages in one’s workplace. Interestingly, @fmason was making the point in another post earlier today that one productive use of this acknowledgement is as a measure for what sorts of benefits an employer offers employees. Different generations of employees require different benefit strategies!
I’d love to read what some of our members think:
@SalC @LegoMD @rstambolieva @brittbosma @berat can @Naturally Mindful @Gianluca @HRJoy @HRHappiness @andra.enache @Hellohere @HannahPorteous-Butler @Kim Stringer
We have had good success in leveraging inter generational learning and management. As a tech firm combining the domain knowledge with the new tech and EVERYONE’S energy has been a really successful talent strategy.
We don’t tend to label people (other than a bit of banter about our 6th form common room!) and have people with ‘less’ years managing people with ‘more’ years, we have product specialists advising tech specialists and vice versa.
The experience usually kicks in as necessary when we encounter new challenges because for some (of us) it’s not our first or tenth rodeo…
We have an obligation to grow people and talented people no matter their generation, their age or their label…
I really like the point you bring up here @damayantichowdhury09! It is so easy to slip into using labels like boomer or gen Z as if that explains a whole person. We have probably all done it at some point. It feels quick and harmless, but the risk is that we stop seeing our colleagues for who they really are.
If I look at real ecosystems in nature, they do not thrive because everyone stays in their own group. They thrive because there is symbiosis. Each part brings something different that makes the whole stronger. Workplaces are no different. The magic happens when we actually use those complementary strengths instead of defaulting to stereotypes.
Respect is a good baseline, but I feel what really shifts the game is curiosity. Am I willing to meet this colleague as a person rather than a category? That is where the real collaboration and learning start. 
I completely agree @SabbuSchreiber, people certainly thrive because there is symbiosis! I believe there needs to be innate curiosity and the will for collaboration and we can then all harmoniously exist without bothering about trivial things like labels and categories.
Excellent points here, @damayantichowdhury09. The use of those labels reminds me of the need for our brains to neatly categorise people. It’s an understandable impulse, but not one that serves a lot of purpose when we’re actually working with (and getting to know) people.
There are of course, as you note here, very good reasons for acknowledging the diversity of ages in one’s workplace. Interestingly, @fmason was making the point in another post earlier today that one productive use of this acknowledgement is as a measure for what sorts of benefits an employer offers employees. Different generations of employees require different benefit strategies!
I’d love to read what some of our members think:
@SalC @LegoMD @rstambolieva @brittbosma @berat can @Naturally Mindful @Gianluca @HRJoy @HRHappiness @andra.enache @Hellohere @HannahPorteous-Butler @Kim Stringer
Thanks @Moe!
That sounds like a great point, will definitely give the post a read, thanks for sharing!
We have had good success in leveraging inter generational learning and management. As a tech firm combining the domain knowledge with the new tech and EVERYONE’S energy has been a really successful talent strategy.
We don’t tend to label people (other than a bit of banter about our 6th form common room!) and have people with ‘less’ years managing people with ‘more’ years, we have product specialists advising tech specialists and vice versa.
The experience usually kicks in as necessary when we encounter new challenges because for some (of us) it’s not our first or tenth rodeo…
We have an obligation to grow people and talented people no matter their generation, their age or their label…
That is amazing to hear @fmason! I completely agree with your point, people need to be given the space to grow regardless of anything that tends to ‘categorise’ them.
We have had good success in leveraging inter generational learning and management. As a tech firm combining the domain knowledge with the new tech and EVERYONE’S energy has been a really successful talent strategy.
We don’t tend to label people (other than a bit of banter about our 6th form common room!) and have people with ‘less’ years managing people with ‘more’ years, we have product specialists advising tech specialists and vice versa.
The experience usually kicks in as necessary when we encounter new challenges because for some (of us) it’s not our first or tenth rodeo…
We have an obligation to grow people and talented people no matter their generation, their age or their label…
One thing I’m curious about, @fmason : at any point in your career, have you had to manage any awkwardness or tension resulting from someone younger managing their older colleague? I ask because in my former life as a sports reporter, this sort of dynamic did result in some slight tension in newsrooms I’ve worked in.
@Aaron Windrum, I’d love to get some perspective from you as part of this conversation as well 
Thanks @Moe .
@damayantichowdhury09 Great topic and observations. Just my two cents, but I believe what we’re seeing in today’s multi-generational workplace is, in many ways, the product of the different education systems each generation experienced.
In my early years at school, teaching tools were books, blackboards, chalk, overhead projectors with handwritten acetate sheets. During my later school years, personal computers entered classrooms, digital projectors replaced the old ones, and technology quickly became central to teaching. During my first years at Uni, assignments needed to be physically printed and required binding, they were then submitted in person. By my final year, online submission was being introduced. As a result, each generation entering the workforce has been exposed to a different set of tools from the start.
Workplaces are also experiencing these changes and constantly evolving to bridge gaps between older and newer ways of working. It’s not unlike the past transition from typewriters and fax machines to computers and email. Another thing I’ve realised is that younger people entering the workplace are expecting workplaces to have the latest tools to assist them in carrying out their roles efficiently, which isn’t surprising considering that they had access to these both in education and at home.
As you mention, while generational labels can be useful to spot common patterns, we can’t overlook individuality and personal preference. One person may love reading on a Kindle, while another prefers a physical book, regardless of generation.
I’ve found mentorship and reverse mentorship programmes to be a great way to bridge the divide. They enable the knowledge and wisdom sharing between different generations in the workplace which you mention. I’ve found what tends to happen is that those taking part find out they have more in common than they think, and having shared organisational goals helps with this too.
It’s a fascinating conversation, and it’s important to see both the common generational influences and the unique preferences that shape how each of us works best.