Traditionalists (Silent Generation)	Baby Boomers	Generation X	Millennials	Generation Z
Technology is . . .	Hoover Dam	The microwave	Internet	Hand-held devices	Apps
Communicate via . . .	Rotary phones	Touch-tone phones	Cellphones and pagers	Internet Smartphones	Social Media

Every generation develops expertise in communication formats and media that reflect their situational reality. For example, Traditionalists tend to have a more formal communication style, with strict adherence to written grammatical rules and a strong cultural structure. Baby Boomers tend to prefer a more informal and collaborative approach. Gen X communications tend to be more blunt and direct: just the facts. Millennial and Gen Z communication is technology-dependent. As an Ad Council article notes, these generations are driving a truncation of the English language, shortening words (e.g., totally becomes totes) and abbreviating phrases into one or two-syllable “words,” which may or may not be spoken aloud (e.g., FOMO for “fear of missing out” and TL;DR for “too long; didn’t read”). These clippings have their roots in texting language: a shorthand that’s optimized for the communications media and immediate gratification expectations of mobile communication.

Texting^[2]

Texting is a cross-generational trend—something that nearly all adults in America participate in. 

1. 97% of US Adults own a mobile phone (85% of these are smartphones).
2. Americans check their phones on average 96 times per day (once every ten minutes).
3. 95% of text messages are read and responded to within 3 minutes of being received.

Bridging the Generation Gap

Each generation brings not only a frame of reference but also a set of competencies—and expectations—based on how they view the world and their place in it. The challenge for both businesses and individuals is that we now have five generations in the workforce. Differences in generational communication style and media are, effectively, language barriers. To the extent that individuals can’t translate, the communication gaps are a hindrance to effective collaboration and the achievement of goals and objectives. The communication disconnect can also affect employee morale and productivity.

The opportunity in this situation is to leverage specific generational strengths and decrease points of friction. The best-case scenario is to create a culture and opportunities that encourage cross-generational sharing and mentoring. 

In a related trend, the model of talent management is changing. We’re moving to a model of shared learning, where workers of all ages contribute to each other’s growth and development.^[3] Indeed, “intergenerational agility” is key to ensuring that both employees and employers receive meaningful benefits and unique advantages. Business benefits of intergenerational learning include increased efficiency, productivity, and competitive positioning. Two statistics that suggest the culture and communication gaps can be bridged:^[4]

• 90 percent of Millennials believe that Boomers bring substantial experience and knowledge to the workplace
• 93 percent of Baby Boomers believe that Millennials bring new skills and ideas to the workplace.

The diversity of the intergenerational workplace isn’t just a development—it’s a creative opportunity.

Professor Mariano Sánchez of the University of Granada in Spain sees the opportunity to cultivate ”generational intelligence;” specifically, “organizing activities that raise generational awareness, connect generations and help them work better together—exchanging knowledge, ideas, skills and more to enhance the broad skill sets everyone needs in today’s jobs.”^[5]

According to Jason Dorsey, Millenial and Gen Z researcher and co-founder of The Center for Generational Kinetics, “The key is getting each person to recognize that everyone has different communication skills that can be harnessed to best support the organization.”^[6] Incorporating multiple communication media in meetings and facilitating ongoing discussion/collaboration allows members of different generations to share expertise and demonstrate their value. Selecting technology that supports multiple ways of communicating and collaborating can also leverage collective strengths and create fertile ground. For example, using a videoconferencing platform like Zoom allows participants to connect visually and participate virtually, with audio, screen sharing, and recording capabilities.