Valerie Simon
Do you choose your words carefully? I’m not referring to SEO, but to everyday communication – blog posts, emails, texts, meetings, and even office conversations.
Recently, I have heard several Gen X managers, voice concerns regarding patterns of communication they are noticing in Gen Y employees; in particular, lengthy email exchanges that could be more efficiently managed with a quick phone call or a stroll 30 feet away, and tweets and emails which appear hastily written and not well thought out. Is this simply the result of a heightened comfort level that comes with growing up immersed in digital communications?
While I have read concerns that these digital habits also have a negative effect on face-to-face communications skills, my experience has been quite the opposite. In fact, I have noticed many of these same members of Gen Y, thrive in “real life” conversations. I see a respect and humility in their body language, and have been touched by the sincerity and thoughtfulness of their words. Looking someone in the eye seems to bring out a heightened awareness of the impact of their words and adds a sense of importance to the discussion.
As a Gen X’er, I grew up with the utmost respect for the written word. Letters were to be carefully crafted and edited. The only content available to the general public was published by professional journalists. To this day the power of the written word leaves me awed, impressed, and perhaps a little intimidated. Conversely, I find it easy to become extremely casual in conversation. A mentor recently encouraged me to write out my thoughts before meetings, so not to let my enthusiasm deter me from effective communication.
My BurrellesLuce colleague Crystal DeGoede recently questioned whether the mentality of other generations is the same as millennials. I wonder whether it is the mentality that is so different or simply the way in which the different generations communicate. Does growing up in a digital environment alter both written and in person communication styles? I’d be curious to hear your thoughts. What differences do you see between the communication styles of Gen Y and Gen X? And let’s not forget about the Boomers… how does their communication style fit into the mix?
online survey of 1,000 millennial women, ranging in age from 22-35, who are employed full-time in the United States. (In the U.S., women will soon comprise half the workforce and Millennials are now one-third of the working population.)
