Strategic Tech Slideshow: Help Your Employees Leverage Technology

Start With BlackBerry OS

Older employees might not feel comfortable in an always-connected work world, but at this point it's a requirement. RIM's BlackBerry will ease them into productivity-on-the-go.

Give Them Notebooks

If you still have workers using desktops, it's time to switch to notebooks. The business world is going mobile. Younger workers embrace this. Give older employees the tools to follow suit.

Facebook is a Way of Life

Many older employees have no interest in Facebook. Require them to join the network anyway. Every young employee is on Facebook, and it could potentially be a viable communication platform. Having only some of your workers there doesn't cut it.

Let Youngsters Inspire

Young people have new ideas that can inspire older employees. Ask them to share those ideas whenever possible.

Train, Train, Train

You can't make your workplace more technologically advanced without training. Younger employees are tech-savvy. You need to help older employees catch up.

Stick With Windows—It’s What They Know

Aside from the fact that most business solutions rely upon Microsoft Windows, your older employees feel comfortable with it. Younger workers may want to switch to Apple's Macs, and someday this might be a good idea. But, right now it isn't.

iPad Is Intuitive And Useful

iPad is a great way to get workers comfortable with mobile productivity and the Apple user experience. It's intuitive enough that older workers won't have a steep learning curve. Plus, it's a device younger workers covet. A win for all.

Just Start Text Messaging

Text messaging is dismissed by some as a young person's activity. It isn't. Send texts to all employees. They might not like it at first, but it's what younger workers expect&#151and it could increase productivity.

Bring In Hard Data

Prove that new processes and technologies are helping the company. Older employees want to see the organization succeed. Given proof that new solutions are working, they will be far more likely to go along with these.