Managing and Communicating with Inter-Generation Team

OVERVIEW

Let’s face it – we often find a communication, if not a cultural gap, between the different generations that compose our workforce. Preferences for communication modes and styles can leave even the best-functioning teams at a loss. Our Managing and Communicating with Inter-Generation Team training shares advice and best practices for bridging the inter-generation divide in the workplace. Participants apply conceptual frameworks through a variety of fun, interactive activities that underscore the learning.

In addition to offering general advice for bridging generational differences, our team customizes workshops to offer prescriptive advice for specific intergenerational dynamics at play in your organization. Ideas come alive through fun and interactive exercises and case studies, including customized role-play simulations that reflect the challenges they face at work. They walk away better prepared to work with colleagues from different generations than their own.

OBJECTIVES

After the training, the Participants are expected to:

• Manage cross-generational communication and relationships more effectively
• Have an improved sense of when generational factors might be at play
• Bridge generational differences using specific communication skills
• Understand the core strengths, assets, and values of each generation
• Strategies for communicating, collaborating, and managing a multigenerational workforce
• Understand the power of leveraging differences and finding similarities within a team
• Identify the advantages of a multi-generational team
• Apply broad strategies to build effective multi-generational teams at their workplace

TARGET PARTICIPANTS

For leaders and managers of intergenerational teams who would like to improve their competencies in managing such teams and feel more comfortable addressing employees of a different generation than their own.

COURSE OUTLINE

1. Introduction to Multi-Generational Differences in the Workplace

• Overview of the different generations in the workforce
• Identify common characteristics and work styles of each generation
• Understand the values and attitudes that shape each generation

2. Communication and Work Challenges in a Multi-Generational Workplace

• Differences in communication styles
• Differences in work styles
• Misunderstandings and stereotypes
• Technology and communication preferences

3. Communicating across generations

• Communication styles and preferences of the 5 generations
• Test your communication skills
• Bridging the gap—tips for better cross-generational communication
• Using the right questions to encourage communication and teambuilding
• How personal filters change what’s heard
• Model and encourage feedback

4. Strategies for Effective Communication and Collaboration Across Generations

• How well do you listen?
• How effective are your questions?
• The assumptions we make and how they can limit our understanding
• The “4 Insanities” of Communication
• Flexibility in communication styles
• Tips and techniques for better collaboration with different generations
• Enhance interpersonal skills through exercising emotional intelligence and building rapport with colleagues

5. Benefits of Diversity in the Workplace

• Leverage the strengths of different generations
• Activities to practice effective communication and collaboration across generations
• Develop a checklist for applying effective communication and collaboration strategies in the workplace

6. Addressing generational conflict

• The context of conflict
• The benefits of well-managed conflict
• Sources of generational conflict you may encounter in a work environment
• Importance of self-awareness and how to increase it in yourself and others
• The conflict resolution process
• Coaching others through conflict