#8 Communicating with Baby Boomers and Traditionalists: A Key to Reduce Conflict in the Workplace

As a conflict resolution consultant and accountability coach I help my clients reduce conflict in the workplace to improve their working condition.

Communicating with baby boomers and traditionalists is an important factor to reduce conflict in the workplace.

Baby boomers were born between 1946-1964:

• They attended crowded classes and are good team players.
• It is the first time that they had a category on their report cards which read “works well and plays well with others.”
• Boomers live to work
• Gen X work to live
• Gen Y blend the 2

Here are easy tips to communicate with baby boomers:

• Ask boomers to be part of teams since this is natural for them.
• They have a lot of experience to share with all ages.
• They may need some mentoring with technology to keep up with Gen X and Y.

Traditionalists were born between 1918-1945:

• They bring great value to organization.
• Many traditionalists can’t retire and need to work due to the economy.
• Some traditionalists want to stay active and never want to retire.
• They feel that they still have something to offer at work.
• Home Depot is partners with AARP (American Association of Retired Persons).  Their tagline is passion never retires.
• Post card mania hires seniors.  The CEO needed something constructive for her father to do after her mother died.

I was the keynote speaker at a Florists Association and was amazed at how many traditionalists the conference center hired.  They helped with registration and gave directions on how to find the auditorium.  They were helpful, courteous, and their smiles were contagious.

Here are some easy tips to help communicate with traditionalists:

• Make them feel that they are a vital part of the team’s success.
• Ask employees for referrals from parents who are interested in part time work.
• Encourage them to be mentors for Gen X and Y to help the younger generation understand face to face communication.

I hope that these tips will help you communicate better with baby boomers and traditionalists. My next article will give you and your team can become accountable.

Until next time, this is Joyce Weiss and remember, “You get what you tolerate!”

Think your company is different? Want to take your team to the next level of success?

Schedule a Complementary Discovery Conversation with Joyce Weiss and discover what’s possible for your work group. Find out how these powerful “Be Direct with Respect® principles can work for any group to reduce conflict and increase creativity – even yours!

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Read what my client, Cpl Steve A. Richardson, Jr, said about Joyce’s consulting:

“Our team was tremendously impacted by the Team Building Program that Joyce Weiss presented to our office. There were several people on our team who did everything possible to avoid one another. During the sessions Joyce helped everyone see how the negative energy between those two individuals affected the entire office. Everyone was given the opportunity to express their concern – which really helped. The best part of the training was when Joyce taught us how to speak directly to each other in a respectful way. By the end of the workshop there was a tremendous difference in our team. The stress level of everyone dissolved. Several weeks went by and I noticed the two people that had the main issue with one another were having a conversation with each other. I called Joyce immediately to let her know how she really left a positive impact on our office. Thank you Joyce!” – Cpl Steve A. Richardson, Jr, Regional Contracting Office. Marine Forces Reserve

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