This document provides tips for fostering intergenerational collaboration in the workplace. It recommends creating co-leadership opportunities that harness the wisdom of elders while giving early talent a voice. Organizations should foster in-person connections between generations and treat company culture like a product with programs promoting inclusion, open communication, and work-life balance. The goal is for all generations to make a positive impact while always learning and mentoring one another in a changing workplace.

1. HOW TO FOSTER
INTERGENERATIONAL
COLLABORATION
ADAM SMILEY POSWOLSKY
SMILEYPOSWOLSKY.COM
@whatsupsmiley
Copyright 2016-2018 by Adam S. Poswolsky. All rights reserved.

2. Source: Gallup (2013)
Source: Gallup: Worldwide Employee Engagement Crisis (2016)

3. @whatsupsmiley

6. WE ARE NOT THE
“ME ME ME”
GENERATION

8. PURPOSE IS
CROSS-GENERATIONAL

9. EMPLOYEE
ENGAGEMENT
• Purpose
• Value
• Renewal
• Focus
Source: The Energy Project (NY Times, Tony Schwartz and Christine Porath, “Why You Hate Work”, 5/20/14).

10. MILLENNIALS, GEN-X, BOOMERS
• Make a positive impact on org
• Help solve social and environmental challenges
• Work with a diverse group of people
• Work for an org among best in my industry
• Do work I’m passionate about
• Become an expert in my field
Source: IBM: “Myths, exaggerations and uncomfortable truths” (2015)
Millennials don’t want a trophy, they want a manager who is ethical, fair, and transparent.

11. CREATE CO-
LEADERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES
@whatsupsmiley

12. HARNESS WISDOM OF
ELDERS
&
GIVE EARLY TALENT A VOICE

13. FOSTER IN-PERSON
CONNECTION

14. The average employee checks
40 websites a day,
switching activities 37 times an hour,
changing tasks every 2 minutes.
The average millennial checks their
phone 150 times a day.

16. The main reason people leave a job
is to go to a firm with a better
company culture.
- Glassdoor
Source: World Economic Forum, Alex Grey, ”Why employees leave
and how to make them stay” (May 31, 2017)

17. TREAT CULTURE LIKE A PRODUCT
VALUES
• INCLUSION
• OPEN COMMUNICATION
• HONESTY + COMPASSION
• MINDFULNESS
• HEALTHY WORK-LIFE
BALANCE
PROGRAMS
• DIVERSITY RECRUITMENT
• EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS
• LIFE COACH
• MANDATORY MINDFULNESS
TRAINING
• HEALTHY FOOD, YOGA CLASSES,
CUSTOMIZE YOUR WORKSPACE

18. ALWAYS BE LEARNING
ALWAYS BE
MENTORING
RE-INVENT YOUR

19. 65% OF TODAY’S KIDS
WILL END UP IN JOBS
THAT HAVEN’T BEEN
INVENTED YET
Source: World Economic Forum, The Future of Jobs Report (2016)

21. WEALTH IS MEASURED BY
COMMUNITY &
EXPERIENCE
NOT A BANK ACCOUNT
@whatsupsmiley

23. HOW TO FOSTER
INTERGENERATIONAL
COLLABORATION
ADAM SMILEY POSWOLSKY
SMILEYPOSWOLSKY.COM
@whatsupsmiley
Copyright 2016-2018 by Adam S. Poswolsky. All rights reserved.