Communication Myth 6: Different generations don't know how to communicate

Leadership in 180 Seconds: The 10 Greatest Communication Myths in the Workplace

“Gen Z just won’t talk.” “Boomers need a meeting for everything.” Sound familiar? In this episode, we bust the myth that different generations can't communicate. The truth? Everyone can communicate—they’ve just been shaped differently. Learn how empathy, context, and simple coaching can bridge the gap and strengthen your team.

• Transcript

  I hear it often in leadership circles

  —"You just can't talk to younger staff the same way anymore." Or from the other side—"Why do the older team members always need a meeting for something that could’ve been a message?"

  This myth—that different generations simply can’t communicate effectively—isn’t just wrong, it’s damaging.

  Here’s the truth: every generation knows how to communicate. But they’ve been shaped by different experiences, tools, and cultural expectations. And nowhere is this more obvious than in how we approach phone calls and face-to-face communication.

  If you grew up in a world where every call cost money, where your friends were a driveway away, and where your first job interview was done in person, communication likely meant direct, verbal contact. That’s the world many Baby Boomers and older Gen Xers were raised in.

  But younger Gen Xers, Millennials, and Gen Z were shaped by something very different. Text-based messaging, smartphones, and social media became the norm. Many of them have spent most of their formative years typing, not talking. Add to this a rise in anxiety-related diagnoses and a school system that emphasised digital submission over verbal presentations, and it’s no surprise that picking up the phone feels like a high-stakes interaction.

  But that doesn't mean these generations can't communicate—it means they communicate differently. And here's the key: different doesn't mean deficient.

  If you're someone who finds verbal communication natural, you have a wonderful opportunity—not to judge or dismiss, but to support. Coach your team through conversations. Practice together. Decrease the fear by increasing the familiarity. Empathy goes a long way.

  And if you're someone who finds phone calls or in-person dialogue intimidating—recognise that you're not broken. You're shaped by a different world. But communication, especially in leadership, is a skill—and like any skill, it can be learned, refined, and even mastered.

  So here’s your challenge:

  1. If you find yourself avoiding verbal conversations, take one step this week toward discomfort. Try one phone call instead of a message.

  2. And if you’re leading someone younger than you, remember: your patience and encouragement can bridge a communication gap that has nothing to do with capability, and everything to do with context.

  Different generations don’t lack the ability to communicate—they just need leaders who are willing to listen, learn, and lead with empathy.