HBR IdeaCast

You’re Overlooking a Source of Diversity: Age

Mar 8, 2022

Megan Gerhardt, a management professor at Miami University, sheds light on the often-overlooked benefits of age diversity in the workplace. She argues that viewing generational differences as opportunities rather than conflicts can boost productivity. Gerhardt shares a practical four-part framework to foster intergenerational collaboration, emphasizing questioning assumptions and embracing mutual learning. Her insights reveal how managing diverse age groups effectively can lead to richer knowledge sharing and enhanced innovation in organizations.

28:09

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Episode guests

Megan Gerhardt

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Understanding Gen X: Stereotypes and Work-Life Balance

3min

Bridging Generational Gaps

8min

Embracing Generational Diversity in Organizations

3min

Bridging Generational Gaps in the Workplace

14min

Harnessing the Value of Age Diversity in the Workforce

2min

Megan Gerhardt, management professor at Miami University, studies the impact of generational conflict on organizations. She says too many leaders see generational lines as a source of division that hurts productivity. But her research shows that age is often an untapped source of diversity. When age-diverse teams are managed well, members share more knowledge, skills, and networks with each other. To foster intergenerational collaboration, she lays out a four-part framework that starts with questioning assumptions and ends with embracing mutual learning. Gerhardt is a coauthor of the HBR article "Harnessing the Power of Age Diversity.”

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