Corporate E-Learning

Welcome to the Generation Gaps workshop. The workplace can present challenges to management in terms of handling the different generations present. As older workers delay retiring and younger workers are entering the workforce, the work environment has become a patchwork of varying perspectives and experiences, all valuable to say the least. While having various cultures in one workplace can present communication problems and conflicts, the benefits of such a variety in the workplace outweigh it. Both the young and older worker has many ideas to offer, which can help the organization thrive in the marketplace. Learning how to deal with the generation gap at work will help you become a better manager or co-worker. This workshop will help you understand the various generations present at work and understand what motivates them and how to deal with them on a daily basis.

The term generation gap is a term used to describe the different values and attitudes between one generation and another. This term is typically used to describe the gap between parents and their children. Since the 1960’s, the term generation gap has also been used to describe the clash one age group has with another in various settings. The workplace is such an environment where different generations must intermingle and deal with each other’s way of thinking. This module will discuss the following topics as it relates to the generation gap in the workplace: • What generations exist in the workplace • What defines a generation • What this means in our workplace

In this module, you will learn the traits and behavior of the Traditionalist generation. This generation is probably the oldest generation you may encounter at work. The members of this generation were born before 1946. You are going to learn the following about this generation: • Their background • Their characters • Their working style

In this module, you will learn the traits and behaviors of the Baby Boomer generation. This generation has members that were born between 1946 and 1964. You are going to learn about their background, character, and working style. The first thing we are going to learn is the Baby Boomer background.

This module discusses the traits and behaviors of Generation X. This segment of the culture was born between the mid-1960s and the mid to late 1970s. You are going to learn the following about them: • The Gen X background • The Gen X character • The Gen X working style

You are going to learn about Generation Y or the millennial generation in this module. This group was born between 1979 and 1994. This module will teach you the background, characters and working style of Generation Y.

Now that you have a better understanding of each generation found in the workplace, let us take a moment to compare the differences. In this module, you will learn the differences between the generation gaps on the following topics: • Background • Attitude • Working style • Life experience

In order to be successful bridging the gap across the generations, you must find common ground that enables you to close the gap and effectively reach your opposing generation. In this module, you will learn the following: • Adopting a communication style • Creating an affinity group • Sharing knowledge

Conflict is normal in the workplace, but it could happen more often between two people of opposing generations. Understanding how to manage conflict across the generations will help to reduce the confrontation and perhaps avoid them in the future. This module will teach you the following: • Younger bosses managing older workers • Avoid turnover with a retention plan • Breaking down the stereotypes

This module continues on the topic of conflict management across the generations. You will learn the following over the next few sections: • Embrace the hot zone • Treat each other as a peer • Create a succession plan

Leveraging the best of all the generations at work could result in benefits that help your workplace become a better place work. Each generation brings unique traits that can complement the other generations. In this module, you are going to learn the following on leveraging the power of the four generations present at the workplace: • Benefits of generation gaps • How to learn from each other • Embracing the unfamiliar

Although this workshop is coming to a close, we hope that your journey to improve your Generation Gap skills is just beginning. Please take a moment to review and update your action plan. This will be a key tool to guide your progress in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. We wish you the best of luck on the rest of your travels!