Thriving Together! Strategies for Leveraging the Power of Intergenerational Collaboration

Abstract Information: What might the field of evaluation learn from younger generations about building relationships, gathering insight, being innovative, and amplifying the voices of today’s youth? This Ignite presentation will showcase generational differences related to communication, social norms, values, and technology in the workplace. The workforce spans a wider range of ages than ever before, including Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. With each generation a new world view, norms, and attitudes are brought to the workforce, sometimes creating a clash of expectations and behaviors. What is considered “appropriate” to Gen-Zs may seem “shocking” to Traditionalists. What is considered “friendly” to Baby Boomers may seem “stern” to Millennials. This presentation will be informed by past studies exploring generational differences across the broader workforce. For example, a study conducted by Deloitte (2023) surveying Gen Z and Millennial workers found that younger workers value autonomy in how they get their work done, economic stability, and seek to work for organizations that positively impact society. How can we learn to better navigate these generational differences on a day-to-day basis within our organizations and externally with clients, stakeholders, and participants? This presentation will explore the benefits of intergenerational collaboration, strategies for how teams can leverage generational diversity for success, and how we might begin to apply these strategies within the field of evaluation. By better understanding differences across the generations, we can begin to welcome and learn from our differences. We hope this presentation will encourage attendees to reflect on generational differences, challenge their assumptions around age, and build connections across the generations to strengthen the field of evaluation. Citations: Deloitte (2023). The Deloitte Global 2023 Gen Z and Millennial Survey.