In today's rapidly evolving workplace, an intergenerational workforce may serve as a catalyst for success. This blog by Kali Bolawole, enei’s former Diversity and Inclusion Manager, explores how embracing diversity across different generations can foster innovation, productivity, and inclusivity within organisations.
I remember when I first entered the workplace as an educator, I always had remarks or comments made directly to me about ‘being young’, ‘too young to do the job’, or ‘you look like one of the students, they’ll never take you seriously’. And I guess if I wasn’t who I am, this could have easily shattered my confidence or made me feel inadequate, but it didn’t. Because even then, I realised the power of being able to share recent studies, knowledge, or insights that my more experienced colleagues didn’t have was beneficial to me. That as a young educator, it was helpful for my students who felt more able to communicate, relate, and build a professional relationship with me because I was young. Ultimately, I learnt that working together with my experienced colleagues helped me to understand the nuances of working as a secondary teacher; it is what defined the start of my career and helped me grow.
One thing that I have greatly admired in a workplace is how an intergenerational workforce brings a wealth of experience, fosters innovation, bridges the generation gap, and enhances employee engagement and retention. Research conducted by Harvard Business Review (HBR) reveals the effectiveness of diverse age-range teams in decision making and problem solving. The HBR article, How to Manage a Multi-Generational Team, explains that early career employees offer fresh perspectives and technological expertise, while experienced professionals provide industry-specific knowledge and mentorship. And for this, I am grateful to have had (and continue to have) in the workplace.
Kali Bolawole, enei Diversity and Inclusion ManagerWhen I first entered the workplace as an educator, I always had remarks or comments made directly to me about ‘being young’, but it was helpful for my students who felt more able to communicate with me because I was young. Ultimately, I learnt that collaborating with my experienced colleagues helped me understand the nuances of working as a secondary teacher; it is what defined the start of my career and enabled me to grow.
By harnessing the power of an intergenerational workforce, organisations can unlock the potential for innovation, adaptability, and knowledge transfer. I know from personal experience as an educator that embracing diversity and inclusion across generations creates a culture of belonging and fosters collaboration. Companies that prioritise a multigenerational workforce position themselves for long-term success and attract top talent in an increasingly competitive business landscape.
This blog post was written by Kali Bolawole, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at enei. It was posted on 26 July 2023.
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External resources
- Find Your Audience Online, Business Statistics 101: The Virtues of a Multigenerational Workforce
- Harvard Business Review, How to Manage a Multi-Generational Team by Emma Waldman, 31 August 2021
- Indeed, Why Is a Multigenerational Workforce Important?
- LinkedIn, UK Talent Trends, May 2023
