Bridging the Gap: Strengthening Teams with Generational Diversity Cards

In today’s workplace, we’re not just juggling roles – we’re juggling generations. For the first time in history, up to five generations are working side-by-side on the same teams. That’s five different sets of values, communication styles, life experiences, and expectations colliding, and sometimes clashing, in the same meeting room.

Partnering with the Maxwell Leadership team and Dr. Tim Elmore, author of A New Kind of Diversity, I helped create the Generational Diversity Cards, a powerful tool to turn those differences into strengths. This hands-on icebreaker is designed to move your team beyond eye-rolls and stereotypes (think #OKBoomer or #HowToConfuseMillennials) and into real, meaningful conversation.

Dr. Elmore’s research highlights a truth that most organizations are just now recognizing: generational diversity is one of the most underutilized assets in the workforce. These cards were designed to flip that narrative.

What’s in the Deck?

The deck includes engaging, unique questions for each generation:

• Builders (born before 1946)
• Boomers (1946–1964)
• Gen X (1965–1980)
• Millennials (1981–1996)
• Gen Z (1997–2012)

Each card prompts participants to reflect on how their generational experiences shape how they lead, collaborate, and communicate.

Here is one Activity Idea using these cards: Generations Question Exchange – Icebreaker

Objective: To facilitate meaningful interactions and conversations about generational differences among participants through a question exchange activity.

Directions:

• Provide each participant with a set of 5 question cards, one card for each generation (e.g. Builders, Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, Gen Z).
• Explain that participants must find a partner and take turns asking each other a question from the generation card they are from.
• Encourage participants to listen actively and share their own perspectives on the questions to promote understanding and dialogue between different generations.
• After both participants have asked and answered a question, they should exchange cards with each other.
• Participants should then find a new partner and repeat the process with the new generation card they received.
• Continue rotating partners until all participants have interacted with multiple generations and discussed a variety of questions.
• Encourage participants to reflect on the conversations and insights gained from interacting with individuals from different age groups.
• After the activity, reconvene as a group for a debrief session where participants can share any interesting learnings or experiences from the question exchange.

This icebreaker question exchange activity will foster connections among participants and promote understanding and appreciation of generational differences. Through this interactive activity, you can enjoy engaging in meaningful conversations and building bridges across generations.

Our Single Set accommodates a group of 12 people, and the Double Set works for groups of up to 24 people.

Pick up your set of Generational Diversity Cards today!

~Michelle Cummings

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