As a Hudson Institute certified coach, I’ve always been taught to ask, “How old are you?” This is not rude. This is a helpful piece of information to assess what key issues need to be talked about.

Scott Zimmer of Bridgeworks has helped me with decoding helpful language for communication between the generations. Here are some of my gleanings from them that may be helpful for talking to your boomer parents.

The Stages by Ages

Those born before 1946 are “traditionalists.” These folks have a “silent approach” to communication and typically avoid conflict.

I’m a baby boomer born in 1956 with optimism and a competitive nature. Boomers are those born between 1945 and 1964, and there are a lot of us! We tend to be idealistic and young at heart. Perhaps your boomer father thinks he is still 21, and he hasn’t grasped the reality that he is 65! He also does not accept that there needs to be some changes in the farm’s management.

Scott Zimmer is a farm kid who is a Generation X (Gen X’er) born between 1965 and 1979. Gen X’ers were told that they would never do as well as their parents. Boomers saw a man walk on the moon in l969, yet Gen X’ers saw NASA’s failure with the Challenger crash disaster. What is important to note is that the world affairs that impact us during our formative years may help shape how we perceive stress, and this impacts how we communicate.

The Millennials (my children) arrived between l980 and l995. This group is highly driven, tech savvy, collaborative in nature, and socially adept. They want choices, efficiency, integrity, and customization. One size does not fit all!

Then Gen Edge folks (1996 onward) are the new kids on the farm who can really process many kinds of information quickly, and may be faster at technology than the millennials.

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So what does this mean for farm family communication?

1. We all have different styles or perceptions due to the way we perceive our world, our reality. As a boomer parent, I tend to be optimistic about the future. Your Dad may be idealistic in thinking, “Don’t worry, it will all work out” while you as a Gen X’er age 37 to 51 are saying “it is time for some change in ownership, NOW! Let’s get this on paper.“

2. You might need to present your ideas to your boomer parents in a different way, and with respect. Be aware of HOW you are presenting. Our millennial son came up with the great idea of planting hemp on our certified seed farm. His boomer father said, “Show me the business plan and the sales contract.” The result is 3 years of hemp harvest with great returns (and some growing frustrations in the field).

3. Think in terms of evolution, with the intent of making things better with your communication, not revolution. Boomers have seen tons of change in their lives, but still consider changes to their personal business on the farm with great care. They don’t want to waste money, see the failure of the next generation, or divorce mucking up their ideal plan. Succession planning is a process, not a one-time event, so learn to communicate to boomers about the benefits of the shifts of management, labour and ownership that you are seeking.

4. Listen more. All generations need to do this. Eighty percent of great communication is effective listening. Don’t make assumptions. Question everything and then listen carefully to the response. Our farm just got 3 phase power in 2015 after better research showed that the cost would be okay with the cash flow. The new ventilation system powered up in our seed plant has everyone breathing easier with less dust. This would never have happened if Manitoba Hydro had not listened to our needs. Listen deeply. Paraphrase what you hear and feed it back to the other generations. Do not assume things. Ask “what if?” questions and then listen!

If you are 37 to 51 years old and a Gen X’er, Scott Zimmer suggests you are a skeptic and immensely independent. Boomer dads need to understand this in order to speak and behave in ways that build trust and create certainty.

If you are a competitive boomer dad, perhaps it is time to remember what it felt like when you first owned something (like land) and felt the independence that your millennial or Gen X’er heir is looking for now.

Respect is a good mode of communication to be transferred to all generations. Some 37-51-year-old Gen X’ers may be using profane language mixed with anger that is not helping their cause of trying to get transfer agreements in place. If you are using what Zimmer calls an “unfiltered communication style,” it may be time to “clean your filter” and embrace positive, non-profane language tempered with respect.

“What would you like me to do differently in this succession process?” is a great question for all generations to ask. Gen Xer’s like to question things. Asking a question is not necessarily judgment. Questions are helpful for exploration and discovery when they are asked with a tone of curiosity.

So, reflect on what your generation can do to have more effective communication with the different generations on your farm team. Zimmer observes that 10,000 boomers turn 65 every day in the USA. I wonder how many farmers will turn 65 in Canada this year?

Twenty-three percent of millennials (ages 21 to 36) still require financial assistance from their parents. This rings true for successors who cannot afford to buy all of their boomer parent’s farm assets. These successors are looking for a collaborative solution of buyouts, gifting, and fair loans from the founders.

Some boomers are spending 20 hours a week caring for aging parents on top of other roles. So if your boomer parents are really tired from role overload, consider rested times to have fierce conversations that require more energy.

Be kind, be patient, and listen well as you navigate new plans for talking things out with your boomer parents.

Read “When Generations Collide” by Lynne C. Lancaster and David Stillman.

What is one thing you can do today to communicate more clearly? Share in the comments below!