Accommodation
Imagine a workplace where one generation wants every meeting face-to-face, while another prefers virtual collaboration. One group values formal communication, another expects quick messages and immediate responses.
Who should change?
The answer is rarely "one side."
Accommodation is one of the Five Characteristics of Intergenerational Workplaces. It reflects the willingness of people and organisations to adjust how they work with others without abandoning their own values or purpose.
When accommodation is absent, generational differences become points of conflict. When it is present, those same differences become strengths.
Understanding Accommodation
Accommodation is the willingness to adapt, adjust and make room for different needs, preferences and perspectives without expecting everyone to think or behave the same way.
This characteristic often presents the greatest challenge for organisations because it sits at the intersection of tradition and change. Every generation brings assumptions about how work should be done, and those assumptions don't always align.
Intergenerational workplaces recognise that progress doesn't come from forcing everyone to work the same way. It comes from creating environments where different approaches can coexist while pursuing shared organisational goals.
Accommodation Is Not Compromise
One of the biggest misconceptions is that accommodation requires compromise.
It doesn't.
Compromise often suggests giving up something important. Accommodation is different. It means making room for different approaches without abandoning your own values or organisational purpose.
For example, a leader can recognise that employees prefer different communication styles without changing the organisation's standards. A team can adapt meeting formats, feedback methods or work practices while remaining aligned around common objectives.
Accommodation isn't about lowering standards. It's about reducing unnecessary barriers that prevent people from contributing their best.
The Risks of Failing to Accommodate
Organisations that struggle with accommodation often experience unnecessary conflict, frustration and resistance to change.
When one generation expects everyone else to work exactly as they do, people become disengaged. Innovation slows, misunderstandings increase and collaboration suffers.
Conversely, organisations that practise accommodation create environments where different generations feel respected without requiring complete agreement. This enables diversity of thought while maintaining organisational cohesion.
Practical Ways to Improve Accommodation
Leaders can intentionally strengthen accommodation by:
• Encouraging active listening before jumping to solutions.
• Asking what values or priorities are driving another person's perspective rather than assuming resistance.
• Creating opportunities for generations to explain why different approaches matter to them.
• Reviewing workplace practices regularly to determine whether they still serve the organisation's purpose or simply reflect long-standing habits.
Accommodation begins with curiosity. When leaders understand why people think differently, they're better equipped to build solutions that respect both individuals and organisational objectives.
A Real-Life Example
I once met an older couple who regularly attended a church with a contemporary music style. It wasn't their preference, and they freely admitted that they would have chosen something different.
When I asked why they stayed, their answer has remained with me.
"We don't really enjoy the music or the style, but we love seeing young people connecting with their faith. That's more important than our preferences."
They hadn't compromised their beliefs or values. They had simply chosen to accommodate the needs of another generation because they believed the broader mission mattered more than their personal preferences.
The same principle applies in organisations. Effective leaders don't ask whether every change suits them personally. They ask whether it helps the organisation achieve its purpose.
Why Leaders Should Pay Attention
Accommodation doesn't require organisations to abandon successful ways of working. It requires leaders to continually ask whether existing practices still serve the organisation's mission and people.
The strongest intergenerational workplaces aren't those where everyone thinks alike. They're those where different generations are willing to adjust, learn from one another and work together despite their differences.
Accommodation is not about agreement.
It is about making room for difference so that every generation can contribute at its best.
The Power of Genuine Acceptance
Accommodation is not just about tolerance; it’s about genuine acceptance and appreciation for the richness each generation brings. By practicing accommodation, communities can create spaces where every voice is heard, and every generation is valued.
This idea naturally leads us to the next characteristic of intergenerational communities: Empowerment.
The Five Characteristics
Accommodation is one of five characteristics identified in our research into intergenerational workplaces.
• Positive Interactions
• Connection
• Interdependence
• Accommodation
• Empowerment
Read the other characteristics →
Want to understand how your organisation performs across all five characteristics?
Take the Generational Snapshot.
