Just do your job!, He wants a promotion after only six months, ha, and I am the boss, will make everyone think differently. You can see how different in thinking each generation is, just by the reactions that come from them. Employees will feel equal and be productive when you notice this and deal with it. It is a good idea for employers to think about seminars they can go to on how to manage everyone.
There are others that are the same age as a boss and they come from a generation so feelings could be mutual. The manager will know how others think by attending these seminars and learning to notice more things. With the boss' help, any dynamic generational differences can be overcome in no time. Handing out projects will be easier and they can also be more aware of the teams they have.
Each will think differently on certain things like where Kennedy died and how. The gunshots being found in Dallas Texas is what Baby Boomers and Veterans would say. Millennials will have no idea and then Generation Xers will say it was near Martha's Vineyard Mass. With all these different perceptions how can everyone collaborate effectively?
Upper management are the ones that should learn to communicate properly to everyone. An entire company should consider attending seminars and training programs, not just management. The differences in the workplace can be realized by employees with help from seminars and training programs. Co-workers communicating is going to help with productivity.
Higher management participating is one way of gaining benefits that can include communication. Get an opinion of work ethic from each generation, do not leave any one out. Put the information that is gained from everyone knowing each other to good use for the business. The plus side to employees sharing what they know is the new ideas that will arise which will give a company plenty of benefits.
The company is the one to manage how it will work with four different generations in the workplace. Without any type of structure there will surely be a collision; meaning productivity won't be up to its potential. You can get over the subtle generational differences but some collaboration is needed.