How do you communicated effectively with everyone?

Communication with different generations

"From Gen Z to the most experienced employee,how do you make it work for everyone?" We've had to tackle this recently.

Emirates is a place where people stay for many years.

Some have been here since day one, back in 1992.Some are now close to retirement.

Over the years the company's grown, and in my team we've got at least three generations, maybe four,if you include the newest recruits.

This wasn't really an issue before,but in recent years it's become a big one.

The first step we took, going back to something we mentioned earlier,was realizing it, though not straight away,because, as we said, when things run smoothly, it's easy not to notice what's changing.

But at some point, we did realise and understand just how important it was.

We had three or four generations with clear differences in work styles, timing and pace,and in how tasks were done,always the same way until then.

So we've adapted, wherever possible,our system to the new generations.

Before, there was just one way to communicate or train,now we've had to use different methods to reach everyone,not each person, but each type of generation.

For instance, training has changed a lot.Our systems have changed too, we've kept some for the more traditional side, for those who prefer old-school training.

For those less keen, there are training sessions,external ones that include gamification.

We've provided different tools that can be used by several generations, all aiming for the same outcome.

The same goes for communication.We've created various channels to reach everyone in the same way.

Someone my age, I'm nearly 49, still prefers emails:we open them, read everything and take it in.

If I send a 20-minute email to someone in their twenties, they switch off by line two.

Information has to be instant, it has to be......quick to access and easy to share.

Setting up an internal social network that allowed information to move quickly was a step we took.

I have to say, my company's very open-minded about this,we're asked for feedback almost daily, especially on communication, as Dubai collects all this input to adapt, update and improve things.

In fact, every year we add something new, and that's really positive. Taking on board suggestions from the ground,from us, the remote offices outside head office.

It lets us send messages that are increasingly specific,more in tune with the generational shift within the company.

In short, it's an ongoing topic, it never really ends,as generations keep changing, and so do the ways we communicate.

The good thing is, my company's open-minded when it comes to embracing anything new and positive.

Another thing we're encouraged to do in HR is to help integrate different generations, avoiding each one working in isolation,and instead sharing skills across teams.

I'm lucky to have technically skilled people with huge experience. Some have been here or in the industry for 30 years.

They pass on their know-how to younger colleagues,while the younger ones bring in fresh ideas and new ways of working.

This helps a lot, because in internal projects we always try to mix generations so that everyone brings out the best in each other.

In this sense, both management and HR play a key role in making that happen.

So I rarely take part in highly technical projects myself.

My role is to bring together people with specific skills, so each can give their best.

It's a process that needs follow-up, and the results should be shared, reviewed and made available to everyone.

I have to say, what matters most, is giving everyone space so they can express themselves in the best way possible.

And I think that's something really special.So I'd say the heart of it all is right in that last question.

Yeah, perfect.- The heart of it, in short.

I think that's all.