> > > By Bonnie Johnson, Marketing & Communications Manager and Clara Boles, Digital Marketing Coordinator, AgCareers.com Generations in the Workplace: Showing Respect to All Ages It is already intimidating when you begin your first job out of college, compounded with the likelihood that you will work with many people who are older than you. You may be the youngest person in the room, or at the table! For most of your life, you have taken direction, instruction and guidance from people who are older than you, such as parents, coaches, teachers, mentors, and supervisors. You now have come to a stage in your life where you will work for, alongside, or even supervise colleagues who could be much older than you. Can you expect to notice a few generational di¡culties? AgCareers.com asked their social media followers, and 76% said they had experienced a conflict in the workplace due to generational dierences. Most people will experience generational dierences at work a few times during their lifetime. PERSONAL EXPERIENCES “Being younger in the workplace is an interesting thing; this was really something that never crossed my mind until I entered the professional world,” said Clara Boles, AgCareers.com Digital Marketing Coordinator and Gen Z member. Just because you may experience a generational dierence in the workplace does not always mean that is bad or will cause conflict. “When I first came into my role, I was more naive; when I received feedback from older colleagues, I automatically made those changes even if they were not from my supervisor,” Boles explained. “Being in my role for over two years now, I listen to feedback but have the confidence to ask questions.” Boles added, “I would also imagine it would be odd working alongside someone who is or could be the age of your children; it would feel natural to have some sort of authority over them. “ As a Gen Xer and mother of three, Bonnie Johnson, AgCareers.com Marketing & Communications Manager, said, “I think Clara’s comments are a bit humorous since I am the same age as her mother, even though I don’t like to think of myself as old!” Johnson added, “It is intriguing though because I was in a similar situation when I started my first job out of college, my supervisor, my primary colleague, and many coworkers were the same age as my mom and dad.” Even though it may not always be effortless, thinking about the person, skills, and experience they can share with you is way more productive than focusing on their age or generation. Johnson noted, “I had a fabulous working relationship with my older colleagues, but often in my mind, I compared them to what my parents would think and do; hopefully I didn’t verbalize that too much.” YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE Traditionally people were taught to “respect their elders” and not to question age and the authority that often came with it. While everyone deserves respect, the workplace has evolved in many ways to allow everyone to have a seat at the table, with their voices heard.
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