The controversy over “the best generation” is here to stay.

There may not be much you or I can do about it on a social or cultural level. No one person is ever going to be correct. Each opinion is just that, an opinion. Discussions like this are fine between friends, between family. However, if the argument is brought into a professional setting, opinions can lead to hurt feelings or – most divisive of all – lack of trust.

There is plenty you and I can do about it on a day to day level in the workplace.

The simple thing is to realize no generation is better than the last. Sure, some may have experience more things on a global scale, but that doesn’t make them “better” and those prior or those who came after. Each brings different experiences to personal and professional settings, and that’s where the argument should end.

Sure, in general, the younger generation is upset with and upsetting the older generation.

The opposite is also true.

So what is there to do about it?

1 – Stop blaming each other and start listening to each other

2 – Practice more patience in the workplace

3 – Those newer to the workplace need to start practicing more understanding

Too often, each generation prioritizes being right and being heard over making progress – and that can be inherently toxic.

(By the way, both the need to be right and the need to be heard have more to do with being human than they do with age.)

It is time to set aside conflict and confrontation between each generation.

It is time to install collaboration and cooperation instead.

You may not change the world in the process, but you will certainly transform the results in your workplace.