What do you see in the image above? Some will see the rabbit, some will see the duck and some will see both. People who see the duck but not the rabbit are not incorrect and vice-versa. They simply see and perceive things differently.
Conflict can be much like this image. It illustrates that sometimes we can learn to see a situation from someone else’s view but even if that doesn’t happen, we can still respect the other person’s view rather than allowing friction to occur.
Groups that we are members of, workplace situations, or volunteer positions can all contain conflict. Conflict can happen all around us, if we allow it to. By understanding some of the differences between different groups of people, it is easier for us to work through the source of conflict. One of those major differences are the different generations to which we all belong. Many times, people of differing generations have different values and influences which sometimes result in conflict.
These different generations prefer different communication types, value different aspects of their communities and look at their workplaces differently.
What are some useful tactics to overcome these differences? Mentoring programs are a great approach to learning about people of a different generation. By pairing people with a mentor/mentee relationship, both parties have a chance to learn about strengths that each could bring to the table. Offering multiple communication styles and workspace design can also help to enhance the generational competence, which is the ability to understand, respect ideas of individuals from generations different than your own.
