What Slack—and Our Daughter—Taught Me About Leading Across Generations
When I started working at The Current in 2022, I discovered that the team communicated entirely on Slack. Slack! I had heard of it, in the same way I had heard of quantum physics—something other people understood and that I would never, ever have anything to do with.
So, naturally, I turned to my most trusted technology expert: our daughter Jacqueline, who was already using Slack at The Red & Black, the University of Georgia student-run newsroom. Within minutes, she was giving me a crash course in channels, threads, and why using the wrong emoji can apparently be “a big deal.”
After a few patient (and slightly exasperated) lessons, I finally sent my first message. To which my daughter replied, “Mom, you just posted that in #random.”
That’s when I was reminded of something important: in a multigenerational workplace, learning goes both ways. Sometimes you teach wisdom. Sometimes you learn Slack.
Today’s workplace often includes four generations working side by side. To me, that’s not a challenge—it’s an advantage. One person remembers landlines and actually likes talking on the phone, another can troubleshoot Zoom in their sleep, and together they create a team that can handle just about anything.
To lead across generations:
Respect differences: Tailor your approach to how different people communicate and receive feedback.
Find common ground: Focus on shared goals and values.
Leverage strengths: Boomers bring wisdom. Gen Z brings agility. Use both.
Diversity of age brings perspective. How are you making the most of your team’s generational mix?