Reasons Why Your Perfect Business Partner Could Be from Another Generation

A few years ago, when a motivational speaker in Singapore suggested that one should try a different generation as their business partner, immediately a couple of Gen Xers disagreed with him at the same time. Surprisingly, both yelled jinxes instantly and burst into laughter. It was observed that the Boomers in the meeting rolled their eyes, whereas the Millennials found it to be cute. 

That was a watershed moment into how similar generations can be. If both partners are from the same generation, they simply get certain things the other person does without any effort. They are expected to react similarly in meetings, approve or disapprove of the same advertising campaigns and forecast the same economic inflations and recessions. Whenever you conclude, you find that the other person is already there. 

These are all reasons why one should probably never, go into business with a like-minded individual. They’re just too much alike. 

If you look around the table to find that everybody looks like you, then you need to change that. The key factor is diversity for any kind of innovation or resilience. 

Don’t Fall into The Trap of Thinking Alike 

Developing a business is all about replying to queries, shrewd decision-making, and solving a lot of problems. So, when it comes to solving any problem, diversity outsmarts affinity. It has been found that diverse teams can bring various perspectives and more options to the table. It is an advantage if there are differences. 

This makes sense if you consider it. A few experts from the same domain, regardless of their brilliance, will similarly approach problems and will be interested to share the same blind spots. Similarly, a group exclusively comprised of Boomers, exclusively of Gen Z, or Millennials are expected to apply similar frameworks and similar technology to handle a crisis. That is the main reason why angel and venture investors look for multi-generational founders as diverse teams are assumed to win more often. 

Examples are aplenty. One can cite the example of HP, one of the most successful information technology companies worldwide. If you look at their site, then you will find images of IT professionals of different age groups. There are both young and old colleagues beside one other. There is hardly any generational gap observed during work. On the contrary, senior employees with years of experience facilitate and collaborate with freshers who bring a fresh perspective. 

You will realize that innovation is brooded if you have the perfect blend of enthusiasm, experience, and curiosity. The most ideal method to foster that mix is to form intergenerational teams. 

We can cite another example of Studio Something. It is the design agency that brought the world Red Bull, among other brands. The firm was founded by two Baby Boomers, Pete Burns, and Mykay Kamra. However, the majority of the workforce are hipster Millennials who are coding since their teens. Former managing director of Oracle in the UK, Ian Smith is 70, and he energizes the team a lot. The best part is that he enjoys working with young people who also learn a lot from him. 

Conclusion 

In all the standout companies, experts have found that employers give due recognition to generational diversity for their success. They also stress a lot about communication skills training. So, whenever you need innovation and resilience, then you should develop a motley group