Don't silence that newbie: How generation gap fuels Innovation

Have you ever wondered why experience may not always be the best teacher especially in technology? It’s because technology evolves daily and requires that humans as well as their thinking also evolve. A newbie can be described as a newcomer, fresher or beginner to an organisation, task or to any activity. The dictionary defines generation gap as a difference of opinions and outlooks between one generation and another (older and younger people).

The silent generation, the baby boomers, the millennial, the gen-z’s and others are different the names attributed to the various generations that exist today. The difference in perspectives, thinking, beliefs and ideas contribute to the reason why these generations are perceived and described differently. For example: the “silent generation” believed that a family consisted of a father working for one organisation throughout his career while the mother is expected to stay at home taking care of the household and the children. The children that existed in the “silent generation” families were also expected to have little to no opinion as it was believed that adults could contribute better to any discussion more than the children would. This differed greatly from the perspective of the “baby boomers”, who believed in having a two-income household where both parents had to take up jobs outside the home so that the family could be financially stable.

This different believes and ways of doing things can be seen also in organisations where different generations are expected to work together to achieve a goal. These various generations bring with them diverse skills, ideas, perspectives as well as different experiences. These diverse ideas, skills and perspectives when properly harnessed, can be a great catalyst for innovation which can propel the organisation forward.

The younger generation - although might require mentoring - see the world differently and are often more technologically savvy when compared to the older generation. They love to explore and try out new things, always question the status quo and can sometimes see technology flaws and capabilities that older generations think are irrelevant or overlook. This difference in thinking can fuel innovation, creativity and can give rise to new inventions that were previously deemed impossible.

Asides from difference in perspectives that can fuel creativity, newbies can also be the drivers of automation as their curiosity, their exposure to technology, their proficiency with technology, the speed with which they adapt to and learn new tools as well as their ability to question processes and  ways of working can spark curiosity in others, making them think of better ways of doing things. This quest for automation coupled with the experience and product knowledge from older colleagues will drive technological advancement. Time is saved as automation is adopted, quality is improved, monotonous work is reduced and innovation is fuelled.

Either they are recruited directly from school or they are coming from another organisation, newbies can indirectly teach their older colleagues how to “think” and they can bring in a fresh perspectives as to how things can be done. They have seen the flaws and faults in the organisation they are coming from, they have seen first-hand what worked well and most times, they are eager to contribute to the new organisation such that the new organisations don’t make the same mistakes the organisation they are coming from made. Experienced employees and great leaders should not attempt to silence this newbies and their contribution should be carefully thought about and not just discarded.

It should be noted however that, more experienced employees can also provide a more grounded perspective especially because they have considered the potential risks and consequences based on past experiences and based on product knowledge. This vast years of experience of older employees helps to ensure there is a good balance between risk-taking and caution, especially when it comes to adopting the ideas that newbies come with.

Rather than silencing the newbie or allowing generational differences to create friction, organisations that embrace the unique contribution of each generation and fosters a culture of diversity, inclusivity as well as collaboration, will unlock their full innovation and creative potential.