It can be challenging to connect with co-workers who are older or younger, but having relationships across age gaps can make work more fulfilling and lead to career opportunities, according to Harvard Business Review.
Following are some tips to help you forge friendships with different generations of co-workers.
- Shift your mindset and consider your co-workers as peers, regardless of age. This will make it easier to be authentic and initiate more organic discussions.
- Ask simple questions to find common ground, such as finding out what hobbies interest them. Remember the topics and interests important to them, and if you hit it off, make the effort to build that relationship.
- Set up regular one-on-ones to get to know each other on a personal level. After trust has been established, you can use these opportunities to exchange ideas.
Although not everyone will become a friend and you do not want to force a relationship, taking these steps will help you make genuine connections with people—even if you are in different stages of life.
