Contributed by Darren Lim • Jan 20, 2026
Articles and podcasts these days are rife with conversations surrounding the generational gap between the Gen-X, Millennials and Gen-Z. While these observations can feel stereotypical and vary widely between individuals, some patterns hold true. As someone at the tail end of Gen-Xers (circa 1965 to 1980), I experienced it firsthand when my son picked up the term “bruh” from school and decided to use it freely at home. In true well meaning Gen-X fashion, I promptly corrected him on the proper usage, its gender specificity and the context i.e. the term “bro” usually is used to address a male friend such as “Let’s do this, bro”. I was dismayed when I overheard the same term casually uttered by a young teenage girl to address her girlfriend as they walked past. This really bewildered me, leading me to check it with Gemini AI.
It turns out that while Gen-Xers use the term “bro” more as an address to usually a male friend – as in “Let’s do this, bro” – Gen-Zs use “bruh” very differently. It can be used to express disbelief (“Bruh, why did you do that?”) or describe a “bruh moment”: an expression to a situation so awkward, embarrassing or silly. If a short expression could be vastly different from one generation to another, what other blunders could I have unknowingly made at work? That question sent me down a rabbit hole.
I lead a small team of specialists that supports the wider geographical dispersed GMship of more than 300 staff. Due to the geographical diversity, virtual working is a norm and has necessitated more active usage of collaboration tools such as MS Teams. Increasingly, working discussions were being conducted through collaboration channels and chats that I sometimes struggle to keep up with. And because we work with colleagues more and more virtually, I felt the need to end my messages with some emojis to soften the tone and make communications more personal.
What I didn’t realize was that even emojis carry generational connotations. A simple thumbs up (👍) which I have always understood as polite acknowledgement or approval can come across to Gen-Zs as dismissive or even sometimes passive-aggressive, translating loosely to “Fine, whatever”.
There are still some years more before Gen-Zs fully enter the job market. Nevertheless, it is best to take the time to build generational bridges. It would certainly help make me a more effective communicator to the younger generation and a better father to my children.
Beginning this year, I decided to make a few micro adjustments. I decided to get to know my younger teammates and colleagues – some of whom are navigating their very first jobs. One small change was booking a different hot desk every week to get to know new people on the office floor. It has only been two weeks but the experience has been rewarding. One new joiner I struck up a conversation in my first week brought a friend over to my desk for introduction. Neither worked directly within our vertical but through our conversation, we discovered potential collaboration between our teams. I also got to learn about new hiking trails and new eateries around our office. It is to my pleasant surprise that the younger folks who often come across as over-confident and seemingly uninterested in learning from others were genuinely appreciative when I shared stories and past experiences from similar predicaments I had faced. They felt they actually learned from it.
Interesting to see where this journey takes me and hopefully help me connect more effectively with the younger generation at work and hopefully, in time, build a deeper and meaningful connection across the generational divide.
