More than likely, your small business is composed of all ages of people. In fact, this combination of different skill sets and varying backgrounds is your biggest asset.
So, does the difference in employees’ ages matter in how you speak to each group? Should you be speaking a different way to Millennials just to be heard?
When a Word May Mean Something Different to the Younger Crew
In his Inc. article “7 Words Millennials Never Understand,” John Brandon explores some interesting ways he sets apart the generations in the workplace specifically based on terminology. We’ve summarized them below.
Now: While this word is a universally understood term, this author says that Millennials can take liberty with the urgency, so it’s really important to specify that right now really means right now.
Meetings: In today’s world, the meeting is not what it used to be. Not too long ago, a meeting meant congregating in an office with notepads and pens. Now, it needs to be defined – especially for younger workers. Is this meeting over the phone, through chat, or even Skype? Since the face-to-face meeting has become rarer, be sure to specify your meeting as such if you need the time in-person.
Office: Similar to above, Millennials think of an office as a concept. Today’s office may be a coffee shop with good Wi-Fi and tomorrow it may be on-location at a client’s shoot. If there is a home base that you expect employees to be most of the time, make sure everyone is on the same page with exactly how flex you are.
Friend: This is an interesting concept that has transformed meaning and significance with the rise of social media. A friend today is more of a connection that you rarely see face-to-face. If friendship (in person, not online) is important in the workplace, foster this relationship through workshops and outside activities.
Boss: This term may seem outdated to Millennials. It is more modern to have team leaders or project leaders. Since this concept may not work for the actual people in charge, make sure there is a company-wide organizational structure that all employees have and understand. That way there is no uncertainty of roles, expectations, and who reports to who on a daily basis.
Process: How did such an innocent word become so scary? Since younger people may initially hesitate or question “the process,” it’s very important to highlight how a set system is of deep value to an organization. However, it’s always great to be open to re-evaluating the process if someone has legitimate ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Mission: Millennials often view this word as something that symbolizes something of a higher calling separate from work. To keep everyone on the same page and moving toward the same place, be sure to define your mission under the business umbrella and ensure everyone is focused on this goal post.
Extending This Millennials Conversation Into Social Media
Based on thoughts from this author, does the same advice apply to social media? When we think back to the words of Marshall McLuhan, “the medium is the message,” every single post is going to be viewed by completely different eyes, depending on the generation of people that are seeing it.
While most of your target audience may currently be an older generation, you will always need to grab younger groups as things naturally phase and transition into the next. It’s also very likely that your products/services will always appeal to outlier targets, in which you’ll need to know how to talk to them. Craft your messages and vehicles in different spots for different folks. Most of all, realize your audience spans different generations and embrace it through savvy strategy.
Does It Make a Difference?
What are your thoughts on the generation gap? Do you think it plays a significant part in the workplace and in your social media strategy? We’d love to hear what you think on this interesting topic!
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References:
http://www.inc.com/john-brandon/7-words-millennials-always-misunderstand.html