Tyk’s team members are based around the world – at last count, we were spread across 33 different countries. But Tyk isn’t just a multicultural company – it’s a multigenerational one too. We’re delighted to have a team packed with Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials and members of Gen Z.
Global Intergenerational Week, which aims to connect people of all ages and embrace intergenerational practice, recently got us thinking about how valuable Tyk’s multigenerational team is to the organisation. After all, bringing different world views, values, working styles, ideas and experiences together can lead to exciting outcomes.
That’s not to say that connecting across the generations is always smooth sailing. If it was, initiatives such as Global Intergenerational Week wouldn’t exist! There can be moments when each of us wonders if we’re being heard, if others understand our perspective or if our input is valuable – and valued.
This is one reason why Tyk strives to provide an inclusive working environment. As part of our inclusion commitment, we aim to ensure everyone from our Baby Boomers to our members of Generation Z can share knowledge and work collaboratively to make things better – which is, after all, one of our core values.
To better understand the benefits of working with multiple generations, we turned to the people who know best – our very own Tyklings. They’ve come together to share their thoughts on why working with colleagues from different generations is so important – and to reveal a few insights into what makes them tick when it comes to career and work life.
This is what they wanted to share…
“Each generation brings new ideas, values and skill sets. The ability to refresh your own approach to work, thanks to working with different generations, is really useful and can keep you motivated. Baby Boomers were at the start of the computing and internet revolution in a working environment, which was really exciting to me. Our generation was the first to push for a better work/life balance by being productive out of the then-traditional office environment”Mark Technical Writer (Baby Boomer)
“Being 'Gen X' in tech, I've often been one of the oldest, while identifying as female makes me even more of a minority. So, it's nice to only feel like a unicorn half of the time! Having a multigenerational workforce gives you closer insight into your often multigenerational audience groups, resulting in better product development, with products better designed and built for their needs. I love working with the younger generations; they keep me on my toes and remind me to stay young too! And I love working with the older generation as well. They often share a lot of knowledge and wisdom with me, gained through their experiences. I don't believe in labels or being boxed, but I did do a bit of research and discovered that ‘X’ was used to refer to a group of people who did not wish to concern themselves with societal pressures, money and status. This sounds a little like me – I've been boxed! In my work life, this attitude has made me a little bit of a disruptor, speaking my mind, not following the sheep. It has also made me non-judgemental of others, believing in and seeking out equality and diversity. And it has allowed me to follow my heart and do things that I enjoy, such as choosing challenges over status and money. Lucky for me, this resonates perfectly with Tyk!”Alienor Software Engineering Manager (Gen Xer)
“Working with different generations provides you with the opportunity to learn from both sides (pre and post gens), allowing you to keep a good balance and approach to life. Earlier generations keep you mindful of traditions and cultures. They can have good resilience. Later generations are creative and often adapt to changes quickly, as they are used to a fast-paced world. Working with multi-generations allows you to benefit from all those experiences and approaches. I believe Gen Xers value the ‘small things’ and social interactions – such as walks or meals with family and friends, with less digital focus. Career-wise, we see more benefit in a phone call (or a physical meet), rather than a text or email.”Moses Customer Success Analyst (Gen Xer)
“I appreciate learning from different experiences. Senior people have more experience and more life exposure, so you can learn from them both personally and professionally. There’s also plenty to absorb from younger generations, who are often eager and quick to learn. Millennials tend to focus more on personal life alongside professional life. We understand how important work/life balance is. This has been realised more since remote working has come into fashion – flexibility is important for us and our families.”Rachna Head of Operations (Millennial)
“So much wisdom can come from older generations, as well as through embracing change. I am open to hearing, listening, being flexible and adaptable for both sides. Understanding everyone has their own way – it’s about balance. Millennials are not afraid to recognise our value. If there is a lack of money, progression or compensation, we may fight harder to stay where we are, but similar to younger generations we are more likely to take a risk and go and find what we’re looking for elsewhere. It’s important we feel valued in terms of remuneration. We also emphasise the importance of work/life balance.”Ese Employee Success Coordinator (Millennial)
“I enjoy learning from different individuals and their experiences at Tyk; how they are responsible and how they communicate with others. I appreciate working with individuals outside of my generation to learn how they work in their roles. I think members of Gen Z are very confident and appreciate challenges. We are a smart generation and we want to learn and improve ourselves by learning from others. Gen Zs understand the importance of responsibility, and if we have passion for something, we go for it – we don’t hold back. Work/life balance is important to us – finding time to interact with friends and time to focus on work.”Urban Go Developer (Gen Z)
“The best part of working with people from different generations is the wisdom they can provide. Those of us in Gen Z are newer to the workforce. So, whilst we have great ideas coming in, others can help guide our careers. Finding a position that values your contribution and allows your ideas to be heard is important. Before Tyk, I would never have guessed that I would have multiple conversations and chats with anyone from an executive team. Having that accessibility to make sure everyone is heard is important. Most people who leave college accept this ‘grind mentality’ and that you need to work until you make it, but that isn't sustainable and I learnt that early on. A good work/life balance is key.”Drake Sales Development Representative (Gen Z)
