As Our Parents Age

Be Sure to Create Multi-Generational Teams

At work do you ever feel especially old when teams or committees neglect to include veteran employees? Do you occasionally  see younger colleagues roll their eyes or flaunt up-to-the-minute technology skills when an older colleague makes a suggestion or comment?  Does this situation make you think defensively, sometimes making jokes about your senior moments or aging? We’ve all been there!

I’ve noticed that when a few people in their late fifties get together and talk about their jobs, it is not uncommon for them to mention how workplace environments, while building leadership skills in younger workers, forget emphasize how older employees continue to have much to share.

Read a June 2011 article, Why Multi-Generational Teams Are Best, over at bNet, the CBS Interactive Business Network, and feel much better about your age and the contributions that you make at work.

Two broad reasons that a variety of age groups work together well and produce better results are:

• Every generation has its blind spots so the different ages and perspective help to avoid problems and compensate for them.
• Each generation can shine based on individuals’ experience.

Read the full article.

February 6, 2013 - Posted by Marti Weston | adult children, aging boomers, aging parents, Intergenerational Interaction | aging, bNet, CBS Interactive, multi-generational teams, senior workers, work environment