It is no secret that increasing diversity is often a major point of focus for offices, including within their IT teams. Diversity can be beneficial, as it can help teams become more effective – but only if they’re managed well. According to the Harvard Business Review, if a diverse team is managed properly, it can improve decision-making, lead to more productive collaboration, and increase overall performance.
While the topic of diversity commonly refers to employing people of different races and genders, the term can also refer to people of different ages. In fact, it is quite common for offices to be multi-generational, with several different age groups working together, so it is important to understand how to manage them effectively.
Understanding Multigenerational Teams in IT
Multigenerational teams in IT are exactly what they sound like: teams of IT professionals with members hailing from multiple different generations. According to research compiled by CompTIA, 49% of IT industry employees are between the ages of 35 and 54, and about 30% are between the ages of 19 and 34. However, workers approaching or above the common retirement age of 65 still have much to offer the IT industry.
When employees of diverse age ranges work together, there may be challenges as they come from different backgrounds and perspectives, just like any other type of diversity. Still, those challenges are typically outweighed by the benefits.
Benefits of Age Diversity in IT
You’ll find that there are multiple benefits to having age diversity in technology fields. Having multigenerational teams can help increase the company’s performance because the team members can make wise decisions, problem-solve, and learn from each other. There is no limit to what diverse teams can accomplish together.
General Benefits
In general, members of different age groups may have unique things to offer, even if they hail from similar backgrounds. Different age groups may have a variety of skill sets, which is essential for a company’s success and productivity. When older employees can teach younger ones certain skills, and when the younger can teach the older, this allows employees to grow in their knowledge and expand their skill sets.
For example, younger generations may be more familiar with the newest technologies and their use cases, while those in the older generations may have better relational skills. No matter which trends you notice among your multigenerational teams, as the older and younger generations work together, they can learn from each other and their experiences.
Improved Efficiency and Customer Satisfaction
Age diversity can also improve customer satisfaction, as a diverse team can increase efficiency. When efficiency is improved, customers are more likely to have their questions and issues addressed in a timely manner. In addition, when an IT team has a variety of skills, they are even more equipped to solve customer issues and complaints. Because of this, the company can also offer services on a larger scale.
Increased Innovation
Another major benefit of age diversity within the IT team is that it often spurs innovation. As mentioned, people of different backgrounds often have different experiences. When older and younger groups collaborate, creativity increases and effective problem-solving can also take place.
This can also be explained as a diversity of perspectives. Diversity brings about innovation, as each age group brings new ideas, thoughts, and points of view. Different perspectives also allow for creativity and critical thinking.
Reduced Turnover Rate
Because having different age groups within a team can increase productivity and efficiency, the company is less likely to experience a high turnover rate. Employees who feel that their work environment is not productive or useful are more likely to want to find employment elsewhere.
Older employees began working when it was expected they would remain loyal to one company and position for a long period of time. Such loyalty can also influence younger workers. Overall, a company has the potential to operate much more efficiently when it works to reduce turnover and cultivate highly trained employees.
Challenges Faced in Managing Multigenerational Teams
While multigenerational teams have many benefits, they also have several challenges. While it is important to remember the benefits of having many age groups work within a company, it is equally important to be aware of the challenges that may be faced so that they can be avoided.
Career Trajectory Expectation
Having older employees in the workplace can be a great asset to the company. However, older employees may expect senior positions and do not wish to be on the same level as younger employees. This may occur when older workers look down on younger workers and assume they are inferior or incapable. This can create a rift in the IT team dynamics.
Communication Challenges
Another challenge is a lack of communication between the age groups. For example, younger employees may feel as though their point of view is insignificant compared to their older co-workers who have more experience. As a result, they may not share their opinions or thoughts.
Additionally, if older employees feel that their younger co-workers are not interested in their perspective, they may also feel less inclined to share. This can create resentment between the age groups and a lack of team unity, causing production to decrease over time.
Prejudice and Stereotypes
When age-diverse teams are not well-managed, members can feel unable or unwilling to work together. Worse, they may instead form prejudices and stereotypes against each other. This issue may even extend to blaming each other for problems instead of working together to solve those problems. If the differences between the age groups are the main focus, then it can cause a further rift among employees.
Strategies for Effective Leadership in Multigenerational IT Teams
While managing age differences in IT teams has its challenges, it is possible to create a united team despite their differences. With proper management, teams can become very productive and effective as they work together to capitalize on multigenerational benefits. This is possible when particular strategies are used to promote leadership in these multigenerational IT teams.
Open Communication Channels
An important aspect of bridging the gap between the generations is opening the lines of communication. Ensuring employees know the importance of being open and honest with each other in a kind way is essential to a team that works well together. If you are a manager of a multigenerational IT team, set a good example by clearly communicating with all members of the staff.
While there is no one right way to promote open communication, it is important to keep an open mind. Be open to compromise and try to listen without casting judgment. Communication should flow more easily when employees feel safe to approach you and members of their team.
Implement Flexible Work Policies
Whether you employ several different age groups or your IT employees are relatively similar ages, everyone is unique. This means that each employee will have their own work style and use a system that is most efficient for them. Additionally, everyone has their own preferences for how to get work done, such as working with a team or working separately, listening to music, needing silence to think clearly, and more.
All of these preferences should be taken into account as much as possible to help employees perform their best work. This means that you will need to incorporate flexible work policies into your company. Promoting a good work/life balance is important for all age groups, as they need to have time to spend with their loved ones at home.
Consider Cross-Generational Mentoring
A wonderful aspect of having a multigenerational team is the ability to seize the opportunity for each group to teach and learn from the others. Learning from each other is an important aspect of working together as a team, especially in a multigenerational IT team. To accomplish this, consider establishing a mentoring program within your company to promote teaching and learning amongst the team members.
To start, ask all of your employees what topics they would be interested in learning more about, or let them decide on a topic they would be interested in teaching. Don’t be surprised if some of them are hesitant to offer themselves to teach, as they may feel inadequate. This is where you can step in and speak to their strengths and what they would be good at teaching others.
As ideas begin to form of what some want to learn and others want to teach, pair groups together as you see fit. For example, if you have some employees interested in learning about how to use social media and a few others who are interested in teaching the basics of social media, pair those people together. Over time, as the teachers become more comfortable in their mentoring role, the groups can become larger and offer more extensive teaching.
Offer Recognition and Appreciation
Recognition and appreciation of all employees are essential to help promote confidence, boost self-esteem, and increase an employee’s satisfaction with their job. If an employee does not feel effective in their role (no matter their age), or if they do not feel appreciated for the hard work that they do, they will likely not feel as loyal to the company. They may even look for other employment.
As a result, when an employee on the IT team accomplishes a task of significance, it is important to demonstrate your appreciation of their outstanding work. Be sure to spread the appreciation around to all employees of all ages, as each employee will have their own unique contributions to the team.
Develop Team Building Activities
Effective leadership in multigenerational workplaces means establishing a sense of unity among the team. In some cases, this can be accomplished by using team-building activities that can help the team learn about one another and how to work together despite their age groups. Team-building activities should draw everyone’s attention and allow full participation.
Team building exercises encourage the entire team to interact with one another while also working together to accomplish something. Adding in a sense of friendly competition can spur the team to complete the task at hand.
Examples of Effective Multigenerational Teams in the IT Industry
Several examples in the real world demonstrate that organizations can facilitate the successful management of multigenerational teams within the IT industry.
- One company called Infragistics has put policies into place to ensure that they have employees of all ages, as they realize the benefits of many generations working together.
- Kansas-based TrueAccord requires a certain percentage of employees over the age of 50 so that there are experienced workers to mentor those who are newer to their jobs. They firmly believe that there is no limit on the age at which a person can learn or contribute their experiences to a company.
- Dan Ni, the CEO of Messaged.com, strongly believes in hiring people of all ages as it brings a larger skillset to a company with many talented employees. His older employees are a great example to the younger employees, as they have a great work ethic and more experience.
- Another company, NECI, specifically hires older workers for practical reasons. Due to the demands of the jobs within the company, they need people who have more experience than those who are just starting out in the workforce.
- Avanade North America believes in the importance of practical work experience, which is why about half of its employees are older workers. The management team has found that hiring those with more experience brings advantages and enables cross-training in areas where employees are less experienced.
The Importance of Effective Management of Multigenerational Teams in IT
While it is common to have multiple generations on your IT team, it is essential to use effective management strategies for these multigenerational teams. The strategies listed above can help you ensure your IT team builds the unity and open communication necessary to work effectively and productively together.
Above all, mentoring should be encouraged as learning from one another can spur creativity and innovation. When you take the time to understand each generation, what its members can offer, and how they can teach others, you can create a work environment that promotes collaboration and creativity.
For more information about IT services or to learn how managed IT services can benefit your business, reach out to the professionals at Healthcare ITSM today.
Sources:
- Gerhardt, M. W., Nachemson-Ekwall, J., & Fogel, B. (2022, March 8). Harnessing the Power of Age Diversity. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2022/03/harnessing-the-power-of-age-diversity
- Why Multigenerational Teams Are the Future of Tech | Built In. (n.d.). Builtin.com. https://builtin.com/diversity-inclusion/multigenerational-teams
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