Communication between generations

Communication is fundamental to human existence. Stewart stresses the

notion that there is a link between quality of communication and quality of life.
Human potential develops through close, supportive, and interpersonal
communication. Meaningful interpersonal communication looks at how two
people interact as a dyad treating each other as unique individuals who are
irreplaceable. In other words, they have an impact on each other’s lives (Adler,
Rosenfeld, & Proctor 2010 in Turnbull, 2010, p. 6). Each generation has a
unique communication style, which can sometimes lead to misunderstandings
if you don't know how to approach them.
Today we have four different generations. Generation Z (born after 2000)
also known as “Post 90s generation”, kids 15 and younger have grown up in
the digital age. Millennials (1980-2000), Generation Xer (1965-1979), and Baby
Boomers (1946-1964), they have and continue to leave their mark on current
history. This group includes political leaders such as President Barack Obama,
former Presidents George W. Bush Bill Clinton, Mitt Romney, and Condoleezza
Rice. (Scienceofpeople.com.)
The communication challenge arises in that each of the four different
generations has been raised in different times, political influences, education,
technology, social, and economic influences. All of this ‘nurturing’ delivers
different beliefs, expectations, and most importantly, different ways of seeing
the world around us.
Each generation is heavily influenced by personal, cultural, social, and
psychological factors that affect their behavior and impact when, where, why,
and how they need to adapt and receive information. At the same time,
technology and social media are transforming business and personal
communication at lightning speeds.
An example is a grandparent-grandchild situation. Grandparents love to be
able to talk to their grandchildren, regardless of the method. Whether that is
over the phone or face to face, the “grandparent generation” mostly consists
of those born in the Baby Boomer or Generation X generations. However, most
grandchildren of these groups fall into the Millennial generation or Gen Z.
While the grandparents would rather talk verbally or face to face, it seems that
most grandchildren would rather text. When I talk to my grandparents, I must
be very careful what I say and how I say it. Because our way of thinking and the
way we perceive things is different. Or when I talk to Mr. Han, things get more
complicated, because he is from South Korea and is about 50-55 years old. We
are very opposite, in the way we think, the way we speak, our vision of the
world, etc. When I don't agree with what he says, sometimes I can support my
point of view, but more abstractly. But most of the time, I just nod my head
and say that I agree.
Lastly, new generations are being born every day and we must begin to
consciously consider how we will keep up with new methods of
communicating that will also continue to be born. How will we ensure that the
different generations stay in touch with each other, and won’t let new
communication methods be a barrier?
Reference
Adler, Rosenfeld, & Proctor 2010 in Turnbull. Steward 2002a.
Scienceofpeople.com.