Bridging Generations

Innovation moves fast. But continuity depends on knowledge that can’t be Googled.

Every Wednesday, I sit down with a group of retired men for coffee. They’re decades older than me, and yet their wisdom pours into my life like quiet rivers of experience.

In organizations, though, that wisdom often slips away. When seasoned employees retire, their insights retire with them—leaving teams to relearn core lessons the hard way. That’s the hidden risk HR leaders face every day.

One of my retired friends, an ecologist and engineer who has an organic farm, is helping us on our land in Michigan to clear it for next year’s planting of apples, peaches, and pears and an assortment of vegetables. His guidance isn’t in a manual—it’s lived, nuanced, and freely shared.

The same is true at work: institutional knowledge lives in stories, in shared political savvy, in relationships that keep momentum continuity of best practices. That wisdom can’t be automated—but it can be passed on.

HR leaders are the bridge-builders here. You can spark mentorship between generations, encourage storytelling, and make wisdom-sharing a norm not an accident—especially for the seasoned employee.

I work with HR leaders who want to strengthen this bridge between generations. Let’s connect and see what’s working for you.

How are you bridge-building for continuity of best practices?

www.myautenticoself.com

Bridging Generations