Cap? No Cap! How Generations Teach Each Other More Than Just Words

So, let me tell y’all about this funny little moment I had at work this week. I was chatting with Mr. Joe, the guy who handles all the janitorial stuff at our store. He’s one of those folks you can’t help but speak to every morning, and being a "Good Morning" person myself (thanks to my southern roots), we’ve had a little routine going. The other day, he started telling me about how he and one of our younger coworkers, JD—who’s Gen Z by the way—have been exchanging words to help each other understand each other better. Now, Mr. Joe is a full-fledged Baby Boomer, pushing 80, and he’s always mispronouncing JD’s name, so for now, we'll just call him JD. I’m intrigued, right? So, I ask Mr. Joe to explain what he means by “exchanging words,” and he tells me about how JD taught him the meaning of “cap.” He said, “JD told me cap means ‘lie,’ and you know what? Back in my day, cap meant something real different! It was all about ‘putting a cap in your…’ well, you know the rest!” I couldn’t help but laugh! Here’s Mr. Joe, nearly 80 years old, and still open to learning. That’s impressive, especially because most people his age aren’t too interested in picking up new slang, let alone from a Gen Z coworker. But that’s where things get interesting, right? It got me thinking about how this same concept plays out in corporate America, with older generations transitioning into consulting roles and mentoring Millennials. The wealth of knowledge and experience Baby Boomers bring can’t be denied, and their wisdom is priceless. At the same time, Millennials like myself are stepping up, not only to learn from those who came before us but also to teach and coach the next generation—Gen Z. We’re all in this huge knowledge exchange, where everyone has something to bring to the table. Millennials are that bridge between the old school and the new wave, and honestly, it’s beautiful to see how we can all learn from each other. So, whether you’re mentoring someone or being mentored, there’s so much value in these cross-generational exchanges. If you're looking for ways to communicate better across generations, follow me on social media because I’ve got something coming soon that’s gonna help you level up your conversations and make sure you’re always on the same page, no matter who’s in the room! Stay tuned!