COVID-19 crisis leads to advancement in technology skills
The COVID-19 pandemic has bridged the gap to our virtual world. According to Leveling Up Tech Skills, a study shows that 70% of people have improved their technology skills in one way or another during this unusual time with the highest motivation being career development.
Everyone was left to make decisions on a whim when the virus hit and it was all up to them to figure out the fate of their companies and jobs. Physical contact had to be reduced and in-person encounters were deemed unsafe, which meant everyone had to turn to technology to get them by. Some people needed to improve their technology skills while some needed to at least learn the basics of it. The workforce consists of individuals from Gen Z all the way to the silent generation with millennials and baby boomers in the midst. Since there is such a variety of age groups, the technological capabilities will fluctuate from generation to generation.
Are baby boomers and the silent generation really a lot less tech savvy than youngsters?
A common misconception about individuals that are referred to as baby boomers and the silent generation is that they are simply resistant to technology. Many people typically assume that these generations are stuck in their old-school, traditional ways and want nothing to do with any modern facets, prominently technology.
Baby boomers and up are not the only ones with a lingering fallacy, millennials and Gen Z are too. As these two are the rising generations and the face of the future, the older generations have their own thoughts as well. That being said, when baby boomers and those part of the silent generation think about the future generations, they perceive a notion of laziness and limited work ethic.
Here are the facts
Although there may be a handful of old-school individuals who aren’t willing to change their ways, the majority shows otherwise. Baby boomers and the silent generation are not boring and resistant, they just lack training and understanding when it comes to technology. As they, too, are witnessing the new advances coming about, they are eager to learn and find out what’s in store. These two groups of individuals are known for their belief in expertise as well as chasing wealth and tenure which also provides an incentive to figuring out new technologies to assist those values.
On the other hand, it is fair to say that most millennials and individuals considered Gen Z are not lazy and actually do have potential. In society today, where times have changed significantly, the younger individuals struggle with hardships that other generations have yet to face. This includes the standards and expectations held by society about going to prestigious colleges as well as the ridiculously high debt that follows it. With this, they prioritize work and life differently as opposed to other generations. Because of their compared prioritization, many of them use their passion and drive to chase what makes them happy rather than wealthy.
Don’t worry, the silent generation and the baby boomers are not being left behind
Those considered as part of millennials and Gen Z are associated with the evolution of technology, but baby boomers and beyond are watching it happen and living in this world of innovation. They are mending and learning about the new aspects coming about. The two groups intend to use technology for different purposes but that doesn’t mean one group is more savvy over the other. Youngsters use their forms of technology typically to “pass time” and use social media platforms to interact with people. Older people primarily use technology for more functional and business purposes to connect with people and learn how to market their companies.
The two generations can empower each other
Now that we are familiar with the misconceptions and the facts about the various generations, it can be said that the mentioned groups can, in fact, empower one another. As they are so different and hold opposite beliefs, they can actually come together and create prominent success for all sides.
Previously stated, those in the silent and baby boomer generations live by achieving expertise and obtaining wealth which they can use to compliment the eagerness and willingness of those part of Gen Z and millennials by teaching them more about priority in the workplace. This can help the two to find a healthy balance between proficiency and happiness at work.
Millennials and Gen Z individuals are the natives of technology. They can use this to help those in the previous generations become more technologically familiar and fluent as well, which would allow for everyone to understand and be able to use technology efficiently for both personal life and career life.
It is important to note that Gen X does not have an exact placement in the divide as they are simply caught in between the two sides. Generation X consists of individuals who may need more technological training or may be familiar enough to be able to place a finger on all of the technology innovations. With that being said, many generations prove different from each other, but, interestingly, individuals within Gen X are very different from one another.
Therefore, each of the age groups have values and lessons that they hold individually from one another, however the unification of them can lead to a whole new breakthrough in the workplace.