How to get Gen X employees to use Gen Y's technology? (Part 1)

One of the biggest question that most of the businesses are facing in the 21st century is - Can we train Gen X employees to use new technology? We certainly need Gen X employees in the organization to benefit from their valuable experiences. But at the same time we want to make sure that they are utilizing all the new available tools to improve efficiency of the business. If you are thinking that Gen X employees can't be trained to use current technology then you might not be alone. As far as my opinion is concerned, I personally think that its nothing but a common myth. I believe that for any team to work efficiently, every member of the team needs to use the tools at their disposal, and if you don’t give Gen X people the benefit of the doubt, you’re putting them, and your whole team, at a disadvantage.

I agree that Gen X employees can be reluctant to adopt new gadgets and frequently struggle to learn new technologies. But the trick is to get them used to these new technologies, and help them understand how the new software or equipment ties in to the work that they are doing, and how it can improve their productivity by using these new tools, and then give them the chance to actually learn it. Bear in mind that there are exceptions to every generalization, and some folks in every age group are way out ahead of the pack.

If you are a fan of any leadership blogs, like me, then you must have at least heard this once - "The best way to motivate employees is to show them how their work fits in to the organizational goals". So, why can't we adopt the same approach for getting them used to these new tools? Why can't they learn tools of Generation Y? Just show your Gen X employees how these new tools can make their life easier, train them, and give them time to experiment with it. I can guarantee that - with this approach they are more likely to learn new technologies and improve your business efficiency.

I hope my article was helpful and I am eager to hear your feedback. Thanks. - Bhavin Gandhi.

My Purpose - Leadership and Management for 21st Century

The last thing the world needs right now is another management and leadership blog. Believe me, I have read a ton of them over the years too. But I have always struggled to find a single blog that would make me aware of the changes I needed to make to become a better leader or manager, in the rapidly progressing 21st century. In today's world, it is becoming more difficult to run a business/company - not just because of the current economic crisis but due to the mere nature of the business itself. It is common to see growing number of leaders and managers find themselves working with people from different locations, different cultures, different generations, and different backgrounds. This changes everything from how to lead the organization to how to manage different projects. Thus, with this blog I will try to help people - better manage, lead and organize their businesses and lives, in the 21st century.

I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to know some great mentors over the years, and I have always been a believer in the mantra - "Smart people learn from their mistakes, but smarter people learn from their own mistakes as well as other people’s mistakes". So, I have always viewed things from that perspective. With that approach and 7+ years of business experience with two Master degrees - I have collected a number of the best practices for leadership and management. I will try to relate these experiences in my blogs so that they can help you become a better leader or manager.

Thanks - Bhavin Gandhi