Five generations now work side by side. In one meeting you might have a Gen Z analyst who lives in Figma, a millennial PM juggling Slack and toddlers, a Gen X lead who values phone calls, and a Boomer sponsor who wants a crisp memo. Friction is common. It doesn’t have to be fatal.

What closes the gap isn’t a new tool or another policy. It’s emotional intelligence—used daily, not as a buzzword but as a practice. I’ve watched interns teach directors new systems, and directors save projects with one well-placed client call. Both were possible because someone paused, read the room, and adapted.