Baby Boomers vs. Millennials
By Patty Olsen, TVG Senior Project Manager and Baby Boomer
We hear a lot about Millennials in the media these days, but not so much what it’s like to work next to one. From my perspective as a Baby Boomer, it seems we have plenty to learn from one another. So what happened when a Millennial moved into my shared office area at work? Hilarity ensued, including conversations like these:
Me: Make sure you “blind copy” the boss on that email.
Millennial: How do I do that?
Me: The email box labeled BCC is an acronym for Blind Carbon Copy.
Millennial: It Is? I always wondered why there was a BCC. I thought it was there in case you ran out of room in the CC box.
Millennial: Patty! WHY do you have 99 notifications on Facebook?!
Me: I don’t know! HELP ME!
Me: I have one less person following me on Facebook. Does that mean they don’t like me?
Millennials: (Laughing so hard they can’t answer the question)…
Millennial: “You got it, dude.” (a Michelle Tanner reference from the 90s sitcom Full House)
Me: Huh? Who?
Millennial: Ok, let’s get ready to take the photo for the Facebook post. Move a little to your left.
Me: (Singing) “Just a jump to your left, and then a step to your right.”
Millennial: Crickets….
If you find that Millennials and Baby Boomers on your staff are having a hard time communicating effectively, we can help. Contact us about our training seminar “Maximizing Multigenerational Communications,” which looks at the changing workforce as Boomers, Gen X and Gen Y welcome Millennials to the company. The session examines the challenges these four groups have communicating with each other. If you are aware of these potential barriers to successful communication, you can understand how to avoid the pitfalls of missed communication opportunities. In addition to our Multigenerational Communications class, we offer training focused on media training, presentation skills training, storytelling, leadership, strategic communications and executive coaching.
So what funny conversations have you overheard at your office which may have gotten lost in generational translation? Tweet us @VandiverGroup, and let us know!