Leading Different Generations in the Workforce: AKA, Herding Cats… With Laptops.

You’ve got Boomers reminiscing about “the good old days,” Gen X quietly crushing it (but still a bit cynical), Millennials demanding all the feedback and Gen Z… well, they’re doing a TikTok dance while on a Zoom call.

How do you keep everyone on the same page (or at least on the same Google Doc)? Here’s your quick-and-dirty cheat sheet to surviving...err, leading...a multi-generational team. Buckle up, it’s going to be a ride!

Baby Boomers (1946-1964):

The Motto: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

What they really mean: “I’ve been doing this since before you could spell ‘laptop.’”

How to lead them: Respect the experience and avoid using phrases like “disruption” or “going viral”...unless you’re talking about the flu. They appreciate a firm handshake and a meeting that isn’t on Zoom for once. (Side note: Teach them that “Reply All” is not their best friend ??).

Boomer Pro Tip: Make them mentors! Their experience is gold. Just make sure you don’t schedule that mentoring session during their golf game.

Gen X (1965-1980):

The Motto: “Whatever, I got this.”

What they really mean: “Please, for the love of all that is holy, don’t micromanage me.”

How to lead them: Gen Xers love autonomy, straight-talk and… NOT BEING IN MEETINGS. You know that person who replies to your long email with a single sentence? Yeah, that’s Gen X. If you give them a spreadsheet and a goal, they’ll figure it out before your third cup of coffee.

Gen X Pro Tip: Trust them with tough projects and let them work their magic. Bonus: Don’t ask them to join the company’s TikTok challenge. Just… don’t.

Millennials (1981-1996):

The Motto: “But how does this align with my life’s purpose?”

What they really mean: “I need to know this matters... also, can we make it remote?”

How to lead them: Millennials thrive on feedback, mission-driven work and work-life balance (read: the freedom to bring their dog to the office or work in pyjamas). But they’re also the “Can I get feedback on that feedback?” generation, so be ready for some regular check-ins. ??

Millennial Pro Tip: Let them know their work has a real impact, give them a platform to share ideas and don’t forget to hit “like” on their Instagram post about your meeting. Oh, and yeah...they’re probably already Googling something you just said. ??

Gen Z (1997-2012):

The Motto: “Wait, what’s email?”

What they really mean: “If it’s not in a DM or a meme, it doesn’t exist.”

How to lead them: Want to keep Gen Z engaged? Give them purpose, tech and no PowerPoints. They’re digital natives...so if you think your new software is confusing, they probably figured it out while creating a side-hustle on the blockchain. Also, they’ll probably fact-check your management tips. In real-time.

Gen Z Pro Tip: Let them collaborate and innovate. Just be prepared for them to use the phrase, “Ok, boomer” with anyone over 30… and they probably already updated your company’s Twitter without you knowing. ??

The moral of the story? Leading different generations isn’t just about understanding the differences,it’s about celebrating them (with a side of patience and maybe an extra cup of coffee).

Whether it’s Boomers sharing their wisdom or Gen Z teaching you the latest TikTok dance, each generation has something amazing to bring to the table. And as a leader, it’s your job to make sure there’s space at that table for everyone.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to figure out how to set up this Google Drive thing Gen Z keeps talking about… ??

Got your own tips or stories? Drop them in the comments, and let’s laugh (and learn) together!

#Leadership #GenerationalDiversity #TeamBuilding #LeadingWithHumor #MultigenerationalTeams #WorkplaceFun #Inspiration