Fierce Tip of the Week: Connect with Someone from a Different Generation

When I took the Fierce Generations workshop, I was shocked to discover that, even though I am a Gen Y’er, I actually identified more closely with traits commonly associated with my grandparents’ generation.

This new realization about myself prompted me to call my grandparents and have a conversation with them to learn more about their thoughts on current events and how they viewed the world. I was surprised to discover how aligned our points of view were when it came to most social, political, economic, and pop culture topics. How we formed those opinions came from different experiences, and yet, what we value is very similar.

Even though I was close with my grandparents, prior to this conversation, I would have bet that we held opposing views on how the world should tick. What I realized was that even though two generations and 50 years separated us, the human experience is the human experience.

This week’s Fierce tip is about connecting with a different generation and getting curious. Let go of your assumptions and open yourself up to the chance to engage with someone you might not normally engage with.

This can be particularly powerful in the workplace. Multi-generational collaboration is around every corner if we only open ourselves up to the possibilities.