Today’s workforce consists of people from various age groups, such as Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. According to a recent report regarding communication styles, Baby Boomers prefer in-person or telephone, while Gen X likes emails. On the other hand, Millennials and Generation Z communicate more through text, social media, and Facetime. How can we integrate different work styles to work collectively and empower one another across generational differences?

1. Generational Work Styles and Women in the Workforce – A New Communication Style

2. 2
Introduction
Dr. Sondia J. Christian
Director Business Integration
Ingalls Shipbuilding
A Division of HII
1000 Access Road
Pascagoula, MS
WWW.HII.COM
O | 228-935-3718
C | 228-249-6420
E | Sondia.Christian@hii-Ingalls.com

3. • People from different generations tend to have distinct communication styles.
• If the ages of your employees vary, your workforce may have difficulty
communicating across age groups.
• There are a variety of ways to reach a generationally diverse team, such as
fostering collaboration and modifying your communication methods.
Managing a workforce that is becoming increasingly diverse in age is no small task for
employers. Communication is one of the most difficult aspects of overseeing a workplace
comprising as many as five generations of employees. That’s because communication
styles often represent the greatest difference among workers from different generations.
Overview

4. • The workforce has diversified over the past several
decades
• Assumption that major differences between
generations causes workplace conflict and
dissatisfaction
Leading A More Diverse Workforce
Top 2022 Workforce Trends
• Employee retention
• Remote and hybrid work
• A focus on skills over jobs
• Soft {power} skill development
• Emphasis on continued employee growth
• Match of company and personal values
(Emeritus, December 2021; Forbes, January 2022)

5. Generations in the Workplace &
Differences

7. How to Communicate Effectively

8. • Personal values
• Family
• Integrity
• Achievement
• Love
• Competence
• Happiness
Things to think about…
Generations have more IN COMMON than we
realize:
The difference is how different generations ACT on these values, not the values
themselves.

9. Don’t overthink
it
Modify your
style
Get out of the
office
Inclusion is key
Encourage open
and honest
dialogue Communicate
Communicate
Communicate
•Workplace communication
•Team communication
•Empathetic communication
Tips for Communicating Effectively

10. • Culler, L. (May 2019). Generation Z is ready to clock in. Progressive Farmer. https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2019/05/31/generation-z-ready-clock-2
• Emeritus Enterprise. (December 2021). 10 workplace trends to expect in 2022. Emeritus Blog. https://emeritus.org/blog/the-future-of-work-workplace-trends/
• Indeed. (October 2021). GenZ vs millennials in the workplace: What are the differences? https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/gen-z-vs-
millennials?aceid=&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjc2QBhDgARIsAMc3SqQbGwBJo4-HICkUP6kwpQbgNvE0oKX_xJQpDdir7XZvxeO2C1uP8-4aAssYEALw_wcB
• Janssen, D., & Carradini, S.(2021). Generation Z workplace communication habits and expectations. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 64(2), 137–153.
https://doi.org/10.1109/TPC.2021.3069288
• King, S. N., Altman, D. G., & Lee, R. J. (2011). Discovering the Leader in You (new and revised). Jossey-Bass.
• Meister, J. (2002, January). Top ten HR trends for the 2022 workplace. Forbes Magazine. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeannemeister/2022/01/05/top-ten-hr-trends-for-the-2022-
workplace/?sh=6bc4ad0d3006
• Stillman, D., & Stillman, J. (2017). Gen Z @ work: How the next generation is transforming the workplace (1st ed). Harper Business.
References