How do we reduce generation gap?
(This is particularly relevant to the tech industry, as tacit (or not even tacit) agism is rampant and much more pronounced than in other industries.)
It probably won’t get achieved by one generation trying to “become” the other generation, because they can’t.
For example – a boomer picking up and using GenZ slangs? Cringey. Likewise, a GenZ donning the original Air Jordans don’t automatically make them one of the ’90s kids.
A much better way is trying to learn more about the other generation. Ask questions with genuine interest and curiosity.
Start with more specific questions as easier conversation starters (“What Netflix shows are trending among your friends these days?” or “What’s the hosttest app out there?”) to more qualitative questions (“What are some of the struggles of your friends and why?”) The better the questions are, the more likely people open up their heart.
If one geration makes 10% more effort to understand the other generation, the world would be a much better place; the starting point is developing genuine interest to learn more about the other generation.