Bridging the Gap: 5 Strategies for Trade Contractors to Unite Different Generations at Work

Construction sites have evolved into multigenerational workplaces, often with several different generations at work. 

“Today’s construction sites are a veritable melting pot of past and present, with people from all walks of life utilizing their unique skills to complete projects,” writes construction attorney Trent Cotney. Realistically, there could be decades between your oldest and youngest workers. 

Those generation gaps present a challenge for trade contractors who must depend on people with very different perspectives, values, and ways of working to collaborate effectively to complete projects. This isn’t easy as “different generations look at each other with confusion and suspicion as they interact together in the workplace,” explains Robert Tanner, principal consultant at Business Consulting Solutions.

Consider these five strategies to help the different generations at work combat that tension so they can work together to deliver high-quality projects. 

Strategy No. 1: Prioritize Communication

Effectively managing different generations at work hinges on communication. That’s not easy because everyone has different communication styles and preferences. This means trade contractors must employ a variety of methods (email, text, face-to-face meetings, and phone calls) to ensure they reach everyone and encourage better collaboration between older employees and the new generations of workers. 

It all starts with understanding your people. “A general awareness of how each generation approaches communication is key to closing the communication gap,” shares leadership author and keynote speaker, Ryan Jenkins. “Keep in mind generational traits are clues — not absolutes.” 

Once you understand how your workers communicate, it becomes easier to create an environment of transparency and open communication between all workers that is so crucial for successful construction projects.

Strategy No. 2: Create Multigenerational Teams

Rather than keeping them apart to avoid conflict, purposefully form multigenerational work teams. This forces different generations of workers to cooperate to complete construction projects. 

Older and younger workers may have preconceived notions of each other that can only be dispelled by working side by side on construction projects. While collaborating, the generations will develop a better understanding of each other and learn from one another. This sharing of knowledge can lead to more productive teams that deliver more successful projects. 

Strategy No. 3: Build an Inclusive Culture of Different Generations at Work

Successfully blending multiple generations into one productive workforce requires trade contractors to emphasize inclusivity in company culture. Workers take their cues from leaders and the culture they foster. If those in leadership positions demonstrate an equal respect for all workers regardless of age or experience, that will inspire everyone else to do the same. 

“Building cultures where employees feel safe is crucial for teams to thrive in the workplace,” writes Bill Creedon, global head of construction for WTW. Each person needs to feel that their unique perspectives and experiences are valued and appreciated. This can get complicated in a multi-generational workforce where so many different perspectives converge and, often, conflict. 

But that’s what makes creating an accepting and encouraging work environment even more crucial, and it starts at the top. Company leaders must be held accountable for fostering a culture of inclusiveness. When you’re successful, your company will be rewarded with stronger teams and higher productivity.

Strategy No. 4: Encourage Mentorship Between Generations

In conjunction with building multigenerational teams, trade contractors should also encourage mentoring among coworkers. The key to valuable and productive mentorships is to recognize that “mentoring is a two-way street,” asserts S. Mitra Kalita, cofounder and CEO of URL Media.

“Often, older colleagues say they have knowledge to impart but young people don’t want to listen,” writes Kalita. “Successful mentorship, though, is all about a give and take.”

So, instead of creating mentorship programs that focus on the older workers as mentors and the younger generations as mentees, trade contractors should adopt the idea of reciprocal mentoring. 

As explained by the Art of Mentoring team, “in reciprocal mentoring, sometimes known as ‘co–mentoring’, two people work together through a mentoring process in which they both take on the roles of mentor and mentee.” 

Every worker, regardless of age, has unique insights and skills from which others can learn. By encouraging them to share that knowledge through mentoring, you build stronger multigenerational teams that are more capable of working together to finish construction projects. 

Strategy No. 5: Implement User-Friendly Construction Project Management Software

Technology can be the greater equalizer of different generations at work. Easy-to-use software tailored to the needs of trade contractors, like eSUB, can foster better communication and collaboration between all workers, no matter their age or experience working with newer technologies.

That’s because eSUB has an intuitive user interface that works on desktop as well as mobile devices, so no matter how comfortable someone is with technology or where they are working, they will be able to learn and navigate the software. Its ease of use and universal access make this a top strategy for bridging the gaps between generations. 

Just ask Bryan Lopez, owner of Alloys Sheet Metal. “One of the things I like [about eSUB] is that technically there are the same steps to do everything,” reflects Lopez. “We didn’t have to go through a bunch of menus, and it was just literally simplifying things.” That intuitive user experience made everyone comfortable enough with the software to actually use it, which benefited the company. 

To learn more about how this construction project management platform can bring your veteran and younger workers together, schedule a demo of eSUB Cloud today.

At the end of the day, there’s no magic trick to uniting different generations at work, but each of these strategies can help you build a more positive and productive working environment for everyone. That will lead to the successful delivery of more construction projects. 

Images used under license from Shutterstock.com.