Ever wonder why you don’t understand the motivations of the woman who sits in the next office?  Do you sit dumbfounded because no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to get your point across to your boss, colleague or direct reports?

Guess what?  You’re not the only one – they are also wondering how they can finally get their point across, to you.

It doesn’t matter if you are of the Boomer, Millennial or Gen-X generation, you are now probably working with a few people who don’t have the same generational perspective, experience or expectations as you.

And while this can create a few stumbling blocks, it also offers you an opportunity to expand your ability to utilize some new communication tools, which will benefit you personally and professionally.

We are all well-aware of the basic generational differences that exist in the workplace.

We know that Baby Boomers may feel more comfortable with a “top down” approach to business while Millennials and Gen-Xers might prefer a more “flat” approach to organization hierarchy.

We also understand that many Gen-Xers are self-reliant and independent.  This may be why they enjoy working on their own.  Millennials on the other hand, seem to be born multitaskers and collaborators.  Is this why they thrive in a group setting?

These differences result in varying communication preferences which affect the frequency and type of communication that individuals engage in.

And while it’s important that we not stereotype people based on their generational cohort, we can also use some of what we are learning to optimize our understanding of each other.

Technology is also adapting to generational differences in communication.

I recently had a conversation with Derek Yoo at Fuze to learn how he thinks technology companies can support people to communicate more effectively at work.

Fuze has been using the current research about generational communication styles to re-engineer some of their products and optimize user-experience.

If Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers are more likely to see the world in terms of individual relationships and Millennials are often comfortable in collaborative group settings, there is a need to provide technological options that easily fit the needs of all generational cohorts.

Optimally, we want to make it easier to choose and switch between different forms of communication; email, voice to voice, text, messaging and video conferencing through one interface.

Yoo notes that “it’s important to reorient software to make millennials happy, but not turn off older generations.”

So there are many ways we can improve our communication.  Here are some simple steps that you can take to boost your ability to communicate more effectively.

5 Easy Steps to start bridging the gap:

1. Replace assumptions you have about your co-workers, with an open mind and a willingness to shift your perspective.
2. Be a good listener.  Rarely are we listened to in this culture and when you truly listen to another human being, you create deeper communication.
3. Ask good questions.  Asking “what” questions instead of “why” questions creates collaboration instead of distance.
4. Acknowledge your co-workers for their strengths and be willing to learn from them.
5. Be an early technology adopter.  Learn how to communicate in every way that is available to you.

Are you ready to step out of your comfort zone?  If you are, you will step into a world of opportunities for meaningful communication in the workplace.

Photo credit:  Du Truong via Compfight