"Okay, Boomer!"

Have you heard this term... "Okay, Boomer"? It's meant to be used in a somewhat derogatory sense, and in a recent conversation with a Millennial (name withheld in case I'm connected to him/her through the 6 degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon -- see what generational and cultural reference I slipped in there? Haha!), I heard this term. Now, what further contributed to the sense of confusion I felt is that this particular Millennial hails from Oklahoma (OU), where the term "Boomer" could mean other things besides just a generational reference.

To be clear, "Okay Boomer" is seemingly an insult to an older person, who may or may not in fact be a "Baby Boomer" (born between 1945-1964). Much to my surprise, the term is not reserved for just "Boomers". It just represents a derisive term that could encompass various generations who are out of touch with the real world of "Tik Tok", "Snapchat", and the way the "real world" works... apparently. I became more well-informed, after this encounter with said Millennial, that the term "Okay Boomer" is used to describe someone who is set in their ways and resistant to change. Well...okay, that describes more than half the people I have worked with in the last 20 years, and most of them are not true Boomers! So, there's that...

In a recent article by Nicole S. for NBC News, a senior researcher at Dictionary.com, John Kelly, described the cultural and generational term as such: “We’re not using ‘boomer’ per se to take down people who were born after World War II in the baby boom. We're using it in an ironic, often humorous, though sometimes malicious way as a catchall or stand-in for a set of attitudes. A ‘boomer’ [in this case] is an older, angry male who is shaking his fist at the sky while not being able to take an insult. They have close-minded opinions, are resistant to change — whether it’s new technology or gender inclusivity — and are generally out of touch with how their behaviors affect other people.”

So here is where I ask you to put on your "SELF-AWARENESS hat" (the first quadrant of emotional intelligence, or EQ): Does this phrase describe YOU? Do you tend to be open-minded towards new ideas, new approaches, new philosophies to getting work done, or are you... set in your ways? Rather than dismiss Millennials (and other generations) simply because of an over-reliance on digital technology and "lack of meaningful experiences in life", could you adopt an attitude of inclusivity and interactivity by inviting them in for a conversation? Mutual exchange of ideas and open communication is not just a good idea, it's ESSENTIAL in today's business world and in society, at large.

In closing, today's workplace is the first time that up to FIVE generations are co-located in the same ecosystem. Rather than hurl derisive terms like "Okay Boomer" (even if well-deserved!) at each other, let's start by using the fourth quadrant of EQ, relationship management, to build bridges between each other and you know, maybe LEARN valuable information about one another's preferences/styles/tendencies that can help get work done more efficiently. What are your strategies for navigating generational dissonance in the marketplace?

Dr. Emmanuel V. Dalavai is a public speaker and often speaks on generational conflict in the workplace. Find out more by going to www.emmanueldalavai.com to start a conversation.