TWT writer Jaclyn Stevenson interviewed conference presenter Alexandra Levit about how she helps Boomers, Millennials, and others find common ground in the workplace…
Go to one of Alexandra Levit's workplace development sessions and you might hear—or participate in—a heated discussion, particularly if the topic is bridging the generational divide. But Levit, an author and speaker as well as a career columnist for the Wall Street Journal, says she welcomes a measure of discourd; it often kick starts some of the most meaningful conversations.
"Communication across the generations is something I’ve been focusing on for a few years now, and it’s not uncommon to see some arguments,” Levit says. “But that’s one of the best things that can happen. It’s at that point it starts to become clear that everyone in the room has a common goal—to build a better a better workforce.”
Levit has expertise in a number of workplace topics, ranging from mid-life career changes to current hiring practices to managing twenty-somethings (also known as Millennials). She says her areas of focus shift with the times, and today, many employers are struggling to close gaps in work ethic, communication styles, and skill sets among employees of varying ages.
While Baby Boomers and Millennials receive the most attention as the two largest and most influential generations, Levit says it’s a problem by which most people in the workforce are affected. “The issue is more between traditionalists and non-traditional employees,” she says. “Most of the latter are Millennials, but traditionalists can be anywhere between 80 and 35, so it’s very broad.”
The tension, she adds, is brought on by these two groups’ polarized views of the world and work. For instance, while traditionalists believe that ‘paying your dues’ is necessary to advance in one’s career, young staffers in general tend to reject the status quo.
“Millennials like to be efficient and get results, but not necessarily from their desks at 9:01 a.m.,” she says. “They say traditionalists can have poor communication skills or seem unapproachable. On the other hand, traditionalists think Millennials can be brazen, unprofessional, or have a sense of entitlement.
“Plus, Millennials have come into the workplace with their guns blazing,” adds Levit. “They’re saying ‘We don’t want to do things the way they’ve been done.’ That alone creates some agitas.”
Still, Levit says addressing differing viewpoints is the first step in fostering new perspectives. She’ll tackle this at the Bay Path Women’s Leadership Conference through a variety of exercises, including cross-generational role-playing and audience feedback to some general workplace questions. She says she’s prepared to see some arms crossed in frustration and a few furrowed brows, but she also expects a small breakthrough or two.
“Often, the resentment people feel about younger or older coworkers is right under the surface,” she says. “But we’ll talk about the problems people face, possible solutions, and how to customize them. These are the things that help both groups understand where the other is coming from.”
Alexandra Levit is leading Breakout Session A at the Bay Path College Women’s Leadership Conference. Her latest book is titled MillennialTweet: 140 Bite-sized Ideas for Managing the Millennials.
Tags: 20-something, Alexandra Levit, Boomers, Millenials, workplace
