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Humanity and history are interwoven in time.

There was the period of invention, where creativity and industry thrived. The sky was the limit, and one person’s invention tended to fuel another’s idea and, thus, another invention. This period laid the groundwork for the amenities we enjoy today.

Consider those who grew up in the Great Depression. To a large degree, even though they went on to lead successful lives, it defined them as a generation. They became those who worked hard and saved everything because it may be needed someday.

Contrast that to the minimalism of recent years, spawned by a generation whose parents were career professionals and collectors, often surprised to learn that their grown children did not want all the “treasures” they had saved for them.

Today, we are starting to see the effects of a generation affected by COVID, where all the societal norms shifted. It is this generation who were told to stay home and stay safe. Only now, they are being encouraged to go out and go to work. You can see how history has impacted the normal rites of passage associated with moving into adulthood for this generation.

Strengths as a Unifying Aspect

With so many generations now in the workplace, you can certainly understand the need for good communication and focus on strengths as a unifying aspect in business.

While we each bring our part of history to the equation, we also bring a unique set of strengths and skills. When you put these all together in an environment that fosters a culture of respect and value for each person’s unique strengths, you can build a strong team.

If you find yourself exasperated with a team member, seek to find and nurture their strengths. And then seek to understand them with regard to their time in history. Talk with them to learn what it was like for them to grow up when they did and how it impacted them.

Here are some ways you can help as a leader.

If someone struggles with the latest technology that you find easy, understand that they grew up without it or in its early stages. And respect that the early stages of technology were also powerful enough to send the first astronauts to the moon! Make available the training and partnerships that will help them to keep pace with new technology.

If someone struggles with adapting to all the expected norms of today’s workplace, understand that they may have grown up when all the normal structures of society were changed on a dime. You can help them meet the necessary requirements with some level of flexibility.

Encourage collaboration at all levels. You will want to create a team that can collaborate across the generational divide. In fact, this strengthens your team by virtue of a broader range of experience. Encourage those with complementary strengths to work together. This breadth of experience combined with complementary strengths is powerful.

Value history. Each part of history brings its own gifts to the world – new inventions, strong survival instincts, strong work ethic, and those who appreciate simplicity and flexibility. Truth be told, today’s workplace would do well to value all of these.

For valuable resources on Leadership Strengths and Tools, click here.

Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after executive coach, mentor, consultant, and speaker worldwide. Deb is well versed in business operations and in the importance of asking key questions most business leaders won’t ask themselves. She brings deep experience in leadership development, strategy, high performance team building and effective communication. She has a passion for leading people to discover and maximize their strengths as well as those of fellow team members, while offering advanced strategies to achieve high performance. Deb is the perfect fit if you’re ready to take your leadership and impact to the next level!