How to Effectively Lead Baby Boomers
Here are some strategies and tips for managing baby boomers in the workplace, based on the insights and learnings of a generation that just keeps on giving:
Show them respect and appreciate their years’ of learnings and knowledge. Experience that’s been lived is invaluable, and they’ve seen many things succeed and fail.
Understand their aspirations, work ethic and what motivates them.
Listen to them and they will listen to you.
When training baby boomers, appreciate they’re more comfortable with traditional training and information methods. This includes Powerpoint presentations and handbooks.
If you’re managing baby boomers in the workplace, try to communicate with them by phone or in person.
Create recognition programs and publicise their success stories.
Baby boomers are motivated by company-wide communication announcing they’re meeting or exceeding their goals.
Facilitate their mentoring of younger generations. This encourages more cross-generational interaction, and fosters shared understanding of baby boomer, Gen Z and millennial differences.
Find the middle ground when introducing new digital skills. Avoid treating them like first graders and talking down to them. On the other hand, don’t race through the lesson as though they were born with smartphones in their hands.
Organise meetings where they can interact and impress with valuable input.
Speak to their belief in individual worth and work ethic. For example “We need your expertise on this…” or “We really value the work you’ve done on this…”
Provide them with a financial reward for a job well done.
Phone them when you want to talk to them – it’s their preferred method of communication. Remind them of the next action steps at the end of each call or send in an email as a record.
Don’t offer a technology-based solution to every workplace problem – think old-school practices too. It’s important that they’re comfortable. If what they do gets the job done and isn’t upsetting work practices, then this shouldn’t be a problem.
Avoid talking as if their preferred older practices are stupid. Keep it constructive. It is also beneficial to provide training for baby boomers on new technologies, and offer them IT support.
LIGHT BULB BRIGHT IDEAS
Give them a voice – a forum in which to present ideas and information. Perhaps a forum where they can conduct information sharing sessions with younger team members explaining their generation’s historic milestones, characteristics, culture and language.
Consider flexible working arrangements. This allows them to take or pick grandchildren up from school, transport elderly parents to medical appointments, or care for family members.
Consider offering consultancy work when they retire so they can continue to share their skills, expertise and knowledge.