Having intergenerational friendships that bring great joy at work are such a universal experience. However this can expand way beyond just friendships, as relationships with colleagues from different generations can contribute infinitely to your career progression.
In our formative years, we are constantly surrounded by our age-mates often leading to a sense of competitiveness, comparing who is the first to reach important life milestones. When it comes to intergenerational friendships this pursuit is futile. In these relationships you are usually at completely different life stages and therefore instead of bonding over similarities, it can open up the possibility of hearing things from a different perspective.
The role of mentorship
While workplace friendships are integral to the happiness, and often success, of employees there are many other valuable ways to develop intergenerational relationships at work. One of the most important ways to do so is through mentorship.
Women Ahead report that 84% of those in mentoring relationships say that they provide two-way inspiration for mentor and mentee. In these scenarios, you’ll likely be interacting with someone at a different level, whether that’s within your organisation or not. For more junior staff this will allow some insight into the workings of the management team, and help to understand the complexities of decision-making at the top. On the flip side, more senior staff can gain an understanding into the experience of those working closer to the front line, be that consumers or clients.
The knowledge sharing across generations is also a very important part of mentoring. While those who are more experienced will be able to provide guidance into what opportunities are worth taking and how to approach certain work scenarios, younger colleagues can keep you abreast of new trends that can benefit your business. An example of this is how a daughter used TikTok to help her dad's book go viral 11 years after it was published, making it the number one book in the serial killer/thriller genre on Amazon. TikTok creator, Keith Lee’s food reviews have also helped struggling small businesses with customers, who may not be able to utilise social media marketing to their advantage on their own.
Retaining your workforce
In a recent survey of more than 200 Gen Zers, participants reported that having a sense of community, along with paid time off and mental health days, is essential to them at work. With Gen Z entering the workforce at a rapid rate, it is essential that businesses are able to engage and retain this generation, and when a sense of community is top of the list, organisations cannot deny the power of encouraging relationships across the generations.
According to LinkedIn, the top intergenerational conflicts at work are management styles, work-life balance expectations and communication styles. With age diversity on the rise at companies all around the world, generational harmony is important to ensure things run smoothly. Using initiatives such as mentoring programmes can help individuals connect with those from different stages of life and understand other people’s perspectives more clearly. Once these relationships are established and communication across generations becomes a positive learning experience, rather than a way to separate the workforce, businesses can thrive.
Navigating highs and lows
Those who are early on in their careers can benefit from seeking guidance from those with more experience to put the highs and lows of their career in perspective. 67% of professionals are experiencing stress at moderate to high levels and many of you will be aware of the personal impact the workplace can have on mental health. American politician and activist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, had much to overcome when she was elected as U.S. representative for New York's 14th congressional district, as she was a young, Latinx woman navigating a world where women like her were few and far between. She says that “The mentorship of elders is what got me here. In Latinx + Indigenous communities, elder is an honorific that doesn’t come with age — it comes [with universal] acknowledgement of wisdom.” Her experience highlights how relationships across generations can allow individuals to feel supported and therefore maximise career potential.