Let me just say it: new generations are arriving. If we want to grow and build sustainable businesses, we must embrace them and make space.

The truth is, we will always be working alongside people from different generations—whether we’re collaborating, leading, or being led by them. In some cases, they might even be your partner. Younger generations bring different mindsets, belief systems, and work ethics (work-life balance is the current buzzword).

A 24-year-old doesn’t just dress differently from a 60-year-old—they often see the world in a different way. They approach their daily work differently, have different relationships with technology, set different boundaries, hold different expectations, and communicate in different styles.

You may have seen this chart or one like it from the Pew Research Center, which studies generations in the workplace:

Silent Generation: born 1928–1945

Baby Boomers: born 1946–1964

Generation X: born 1965–1980

Millennials: born 1981–1996

Generation Z: born 1997–2012

Generation Alpha: born 2010

What this shows us is that when we work with or lead people who are decades younger or older, we need to connect with them deeply. That means talking less, asking more, and really listening. What do they fear? What do they value? How do they prefer to communicate? How do they use technology?

When we stay connected and learn from each other, we become “bridge builders.” Whether we’re seasoned veterans, young upstarts, or somewhere in between, building relationships based on trust gives us the best chance to lead effectively.