Alignment and Productivity: Multigen Work Teams

An “out with the old, in with the new,” mindset has never been an effective way to run a business, and this is especially true now, with four generations in the workforce. Given the chronic labor shortages in construction, it’s critical to keep Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z rowing in the same direction, even though the members of these generations have different expectations and strengths. Avoid friction by implementing these practical strategies to boost alignment and productivity. 

Can’t We Just Get Along?

If you own a construction company and find yourself wondering why your workers can’t “just get along,” you’re not alone. With four generations working side by side, there are differing communication needs, motivations and expectations in the mix every day, making it unrealistic to think that everyone can magically get on the same page about the tasks at hand. As Marty McCarthy and Eric Lopez point out at Construction Business Owner:

• Contractors are navigating…an unprecedented mix of generations working side by side. While this diversity can be a strategic advantage, it can also become a pressure point when expectations, communication styles and motivations collide.

• Each generation brings meaningful strengths, but each also carries different expectations about leadership, authority and communication. When those expectations are not clearly understood or aligned, friction increases.

• Different views of leadership and authority are not minor preferences. They are a major source of tension on today’s jobsites. When leaders default to one generational style of leadership, other generations disengage or misinterpret intent. What feels like autonomy to one group can feel like abandonment to another. What feels like strong direction to one generation can feel like micromanagement to another. Without a shared leadership structure, these differences create the conditions that drive today’s most common workforce challenges.

Toward helping multigenerational teams row together more smoothly, McCarthy and Lopez encourage leaders to take on the work of clarifying vision, values and goals, dig into the details of task organization, and keep communications consistent and clear:

Vision shows the team where the organization is going and why it matters. Values define how people are expected to behave and make decisions, regardless of role or tenure. Goals translate expectations into measurable outcomes. Task organization removes ambiguity around roles, responsibilities, authority and ownership. Operating cadence keeps teams connected, developed and informed through consistent rhythms, feedback and communication.

Multigenerational workforces require “structure without rigidity and empowerment without chaos,” and toward that end, two of the specific leadership strategies McCarthy and Lopez offer construction business owners are:

• Create Shared Understanding

Shared understanding reduces friction more than almost any other leadership behavior. Clear expectations and context help experienced team members work efficiently while providing the clarity younger employees need to stay confident and engaged. This principle is especially important for Gen Z, who may interpret a lack of clarity as uncertainty rather than freedom.Leaders who communicate early and often reduce assumptions, prevent rework and keep everyone aligned around the same objectives.

• Delegate Responsibility & Ownership

Delegation is most effective when it includes both responsibility and authority. Gen X leaders often thrive when given ownership and the freedom to execute without micromanagement. Millennials and Gen Z want meaningful responsibility and a clear understanding of what they own and how success will be measured.When leaders delegate ownership instead of just tasks, experienced employees feel trusted and younger employees gain opportunities to grow. Clear ownership also reduces confusion and conflict across teams.

Good To Try: Reciprocal Mentoring

The intentional practice of teaming younger and older workers can turn out to be very good for business—-and people too. That’s exactly what California contractor, Suffolk Construction, has found over the last year, as Jim Sammon, a senior superintendent with 49 years of experience, has been partnered with Troy Rossi and Milan Murray, both in their twenties. The team’s combination of modern technical skill and field experience is contributing to both jobsite success and worker satisfaction:

As a team, the trio say it’s a blend that is proving to be particularly beneficial to all of them; Rossi and Murray, not long out of college and university bring with them knowledge of BIM, 3D scanning, drones and other digital tools, while Sammon provides the sort of knowledge that can only be gained from decades of experience….For Sammon… the speed with which his two younger colleagues can pull up information from a Procore model is a perpetual wonder….“So, what I’ve grown to do is just I will just quickly flip to these guys and say what’s going on here, partners? They have got all that information to hand and so they can tell me; this change was made, or this is new information as of last night or two days ago. I am looking at the overall project and these two guys are dealing with the day-to-day everything.”

The Value of Great Partnership 

Teamwork: there’s nothing like people working seamlessly together to make life on the job better–and the business more successful. Ease, speed and the power to pursue new possibilities are important too. That’s why contractors across the country are coming to Colonial Surety Company for bid, performance and payment bonds—-and more.

Whether you’re after the biggest bid of your career, or just looking to land a juicy new project you’ve had your eye on, Colonial Surety Company makes bonding simple and fast, empowering you to strategically build your business capacity. Our Hometown Bond Program helps local builders get credit based underwriting bonds for up to $250k—no financial statements required.  

Growing from there, construction business owners can get in on even more action by qualifying for The Partnership Account for Contractors®.

Once qualified, you’ll use our power of attorney to issue your own bid bonds, in minutes. Order performance bonds with speed and ease too. Plus, you’ll bid and win more than ever as you leverage your:

• surety line of credit—in writing;
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• daily snapshot of single and aggregate limits 
• ability to update work on hand

Surety Bond programs for construction businesses of every size are right here: Bonding Programs at Colonial Surety Company

Founded in 1930, Colonial Surety Company is a leading seller and writer of surety bonds and insurance products across the USA. Colonial Surety Company is rated “A Excellent” by A.M. Best Company and U.S. Treasury listed. Let’s connect today: Colonial Surety Company.