How To Bridge The Gap In a Multi-Generational Office Environment
From Millenials to Gen X, we asked our team of workspace experts to provide insight on how to bridge the multi-generational gap within any type of office environments.
One of the best ways is to create multi-generational teams.
After hour gatherings, team events and open/collaborative areas are one of many ways along with greater allowance for mobile work time and work/life balance understanding.
Older generations had environments in which to concentrate such as enclosed offices and high cubical walls. Younger generations sometimes simply need headphones. Both deter from collaboration, therefore, if privacy screens can be provided and a few small rooms for private conversations, all generations can cohabitate in an open environment and be very collaborative.
Creative space design to include a variety of spaces to support different work styles, easy-to-use technology and programs to encourage teams of all ages to collaborate and lend their diverse perspectives.
Help find meaningful connections between their employees; each party can provide new information to one another. Create more collaborative areas in the work place. By doing this, it will help with the communication in the work place.
Key thing is to get everyone working together. Whether this is open collaboration, office social events or mixing up of team collaboration, having your employees interact with each other somehow can easily bridge that gap.
The human resources in the workplace have always been comprised of multiple personalities, skill levels, work styles and social differences. Identifying and capitalizing on the key strengths of each individual (regardless of age) promotes positive interaction and allows each team member to feel valuable in their area(s) of expertise.
By providing various styles of working, a company can help bridge the gaps in a multi-generational office environment. Allowing employees to operate in a work style where they feel comfortable will help the overall work culture and produce a more collaborative atmosphere.
Providing flexibility in the office environment by giving multiple different workstyle options for individuals to choose from, such as heads-down quiet zones to collaborative and benching areas but also closed offices and rooms for meetings and private conversations.
It’s important to understand that while we all come from different generations that we are all people. Some of the millennial’s I know would argue that they act more like another generation. On the reserve, Grandparents are now active on social media. It’s important to realize that just because you are born from a generation, that we are not all the same within it.
Today’s work environment is diverse. Different generations interact with one another with very different expectations and communication styles- texting, email and social media.
Making sure teams are created with a diverse group of members and encouraging team meetings.
By understanding the needs and desires of multiple groups and providing spaces that allow for each generations wants and needs.
Respect all generations, remove age segregation, tread lightly with technology and switch up the office layout so generations will have natural meetings.
It is important for an organization to have spaces that support a wide range of workstyles. While the overall office might consist of primarily open spaces, rooms of various sizes should be available to individuals needing a quiet space to focus for part of the day as well as groups that need to meet. By having these spaces available, groups can avoid meeting in the open area and creating additional noise. Soft seating areas with pull up tables provide employees a break from their desk, but provide functionality and a change of scenery.
A variety of workspaces is helpful, that way people can choose to work the way they are most comfortable. Trying not to make a big 180 degree transition when redesigning is also helpful for those multi-generational offices. Instead of going to exclusively benching you can do a mixture or meet in the middle so that the space is still modern but not uncomfortable for some to work in.
Develop a mentorship or coaching program along with promote collaboration and teamwork.
Focus on similarities, keep communication open, coaching / mentoring & training and flexible work environment are some great ways to bridge the multi-generational gap.
The best method I have seen are small study groups with a wide variety of generations discussing a simple topic. It allows employees to engage further with colleagues that would not normally socialize with.
Companies can bridge the gap by providing different work spaces in the office. Provide a “Starbucks” like area for the younger generation can work in, but still keep a place for the generation that likes to work at their desk with some privacy.
Collaboration between age gaps can create great ideas.
Include more touchdown-collaboration spaces.
Companies can provide different workspace styles that cater to different types of workers.
Flexible spaces is the key. Different generations work in different ways so having tools and spaces that can adapt is huge. Also, having shared areas that people can work when they need to do a specific task can be helpful.
They can use furniture to bridge the cap while making sure that the furniture integrates with the rest of the office space.
Creating different neighborhoods that appeal to each generation.
Younger generations are able to teach the older generation stuff that they might not know, vise versa. It is important that everyone is open to new ideas and that they don’t shun someones opinion because of their age.
By providing a good mix of collaboration areas and heads down private areas.
