Valuing Diversity Across Different Generations

Viridien is marking Global Intergenerational Week to celebrate the connections and relationships between the different generations in our company and recognize their contributions to our business.

Different generations bring unique life experiences and personal values. Understanding and embracing these differences can help create a more inclusive workplace where everyone feels recognized and respected, leading to more collaboration and innovation. We asked six colleagues from five different generations for their insights into how Viridien benefits from a diverse mix of perspectives and could go further to reap the full potential of its wealth of talents, irrespective of their age. 

Sharing knowledge and ideas 

For Peipei Deng, an imaging manager, based in Singapore, senior employees can pass down their knowledge, helping younger employees to learn new skills and advance their careers while safeguarding institutional know-how: “Senior employees can also learn from younger generations about different or newer ways to solve problems. Having different age groups creates a dynamic workplace that values diversity, fosters creativity, and promotes learning and growth.” 

Aurélie Poirmeur, a finance director in Viridien’s Oslo office, also sees the value of having employees of different generations for knowledge transfer: “Each generation has unique experiences and values, bringing a broader range of new ideas and perspectives. Also, diverse teams tend to be more creative and innovative.” 

Creativity and innovation 

Fairus Mohamed, a financial and administrative manager in Kuala Lumpur, agrees: “Innovation is the best benefit you can reap from an age-diverse team. Younger people have greater exposure to digitalization and new ideas, while more mature colleagues provide industry or technical expertise.” 

Kita Brasil, HR business partner, Earth Data, based in Houston, has experienced several career stages at Viridien, from being one of the youngest employees when she first joined to now being one of the most senior: “Companies really benefit from building a team with different perspectives and strengths. The most senior employees contribute their experience, wisdom, patience and resilience, while the younger ones bring curiosity, eagerness, creativity and enthusiasm. The perfect recipe for success combines the right amounts of all these ingredients and has everybody working together as a team with a common goal.” 

Open communication 

Paul Crochet, quality manager for Sercel in Saint-Gaudens, France, manages a team of over 20 people of different generations: “Managing a multi-generational team is not necessarily easy, but it means we can move forward more serenely toward the future. Each age group has its own way of communicating, so we must adapt accordingly. Some topics can be discussed globally, while others need communicating differently with each generation.” 

Peipei agrees that managing such teams can be challenging, yet also rewarding: “Promoting open communications, setting up online forums and mentorship and buddy systems, and encouraging social activities all help to create opportunities for cross-generational collaboration. Also, given the varying family needs of different age groups, providing flexible working arrangements can aid in maintaining a balance between work and personal life.” 

Aurélie has similar ideas: “It’s important to recognize that different generations may have different needs when it comes to work-life balance, and also to provide opportunities for them to share their experiences and perspectives, such as through regular team-building activities or mentoring programs.” 

Flexibility for all 

To create a more inclusive and positive workplace that embraces the needs and preferences of all generations, Fairus recommends continuing to offer everyone learning opportunities and flexible workstyles: “I also think we should organize regular engagement sessions that give people the opportunity to clarify and reiterate expectations and thus reduce the gap.” 

Paul recommends adapting to younger employees who ask for more flexibility to accommodate their individual needs: “Some want intense activity with long rest periods, while others ask for more daily flexibility or homeworking.” He also sees the practical benefits of the generation mix: “It makes it easier to manage team schedules over the year, as each generation has different time needs, whether for holidays or their preferred morning/evening times.” 

Peipei advocates a concerted company-wide effort to meet the expectations of all generations and provides equal opportunities to succeed. “Younger employees may be eager for a rapid career development and greater social opportunities in the workplace, as they seek to interact with more colleagues and gain more exposure. As senior staff are more acquainted with their workplace and colleagues and may have more family needs, their social interaction requirements may be lower.” 

Diversity of talents 

For Marco-Antonio Suarez, regional sales, marketing and communication manager, Earth Data, based in Houston, Viridien’s long multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary work heritage is a good seeding ground for an inclusive culture. “Our workforce today is more diverse than ever. Teams can leverage the talents of each generation to adapt to the changing needs and expectations of customers and markets. We all thrive when there is a sense of belonging and respect among all employees, regardless, or perhaps because of, how diverse we are. Open collaboration, generous listening, and respect and appreciation of differences are best practices that contribute to better results and prepare us for what may come ahead. And, of course, for success.” 

Kita agrees that respect is the key: “Respecting everyone’s differences, beliefs and opinions. Encouraging and motivating each individual, and believing that everyone, in their unique way, wants to do a good job and help the company to succeed. It’s also important to be modest and remember that everybody has something to teach us.” 

Thanks to all for their thoughtful insights. 

Find out more about how you can take part in this year’s Global Intergenerational Week here.