5 Ways to Navigate Multi-Generational Friendships and Workplace Dynamics, Younger-Style
In Younger, Liza navigates friendships and careers across generational divides. Let’s dive into writing authentic inter-generational relationships in a professional setting…
In a world where generations collide in the workplace and friendships span decades, the dynamics can be complex, but also incredibly rewarding.
The show Younger has brilliantly captured the essence of multi-generational friendships and the challenges that arise when different age groups work together.
It’s a dance between experience and youth, tradition and innovation.
But how do you write characters who bridge those generational gaps and make the relationships feel real?
Whether it’s crafting office scenes or weaving in friendships that defy age, there are plenty of lessons to be learned.
Why Multi-Generational Dynamics Matter
Workplaces aren’t filled with people who are all the same age.
Shows like Younger capture how diverse the modern workforce really is.
Liza Miller, a 40-year-old posing as a 26-year-old, navigates a world that’s more than just office politics.
It’s a world where tech-savvy Gen Zs and wise Baby Boomers are working side-by-side, learning from each other whether they like it or not.
The generational divide can lead to tension, but it also offers opportunities for growth.
Writers need to ask themselves: What does each generation bring to the table?
Older characters offer wisdom, patience, and a deep understanding of the industry.
Younger characters might bring fresh ideas, unbridled enthusiasm, and tech skills.
In Younger, Liza’s dual perspective — both her actual experience and her faux-young identity — helps her bridge the gap.
Think about how to leverage these strengths and weaknesses when crafting your story.
Different generations often complement each other more than they clash.
1. Understand The Generational Differences
Generational stereotypes might make for easy jokes, but they’re not always helpful when writing realistic characters.
We’re all guilty of assuming that Baby Boomers are resistant to technology, or that Millennials only care about social media.
However, good writing goes beyond clichés. The challenge is to dive deeper.
What does it really mean to be a Gen X character stuck in a room full of Millennials? Or a Boomer struggling to adjust to remote work?
Younger excels in this arena because it acknowledges these tensions without relying on tired stereotypes.
It’s about understanding the unique challenges and advantages of each generation.
Millennials grew up with the internet, so naturally, they’re more comfortable with digital tools.
Gen Xers tend to be more skeptical, but they’re also resourceful and independent.
And Boomers? They might be seen as resistant to change, but they’ve lived through so many transitions already that they often bring unexpected adaptability.
The key is balance — highlight generational quirks without turning your characters into one-dimensional archetypes.
Think of how Younger’s Diana Trout embodies this perfectly. She’s a polished, older professional who clings to her outdated methods.
Yet, beneath the surface, she’s also fiercely competent, evolving (slowly, but surely) in response to the ever-changing world of publishing.
2. Blending Work and Personal Life
When it comes to crafting multi-generational friendships in the workplace, there’s an added layer: the intersection of work and personal life.
It’s one thing for people of different ages to work together — it’s another for them to become friends.
Think of how Liza’s friendship with Kelsey (played by Hilary Duff) in Younger feels authentic.
They might be decades apart in age, but their shared experiences — relationship drama, career struggles, and yes, tequila-fueled nights — bring them closer.
The magic happens when characters transcend the confines of work and start bonding over their shared humanity.
Maybe they team up on a work project and then grab coffee afterward. Perhaps they discover a mutual love of an obscure band, or they both just really hate Karen from accounting.
The point is, friendships formed in the workplace can be just as messy and complicated as those formed anywhere else. Life isn’t neat, and neither should your workplace relationships be.
When writing, let your characters be vulnerable with each other.
Show them learning from one another’s experiences. Multi-generational friendships work best when both parties are open to giving and receiving wisdom.
3. Evolving with Technology (and Each Other)
Technology has changed the way different generations communicate, both in the workplace and outside of it.
Younger characters grew up with instant messaging, emojis, and social media.
Older characters might be more used to phone calls and emails.
But it’s not just about which tools people use — there’s also a difference in how they use them.
The real challenge? Getting your characters to communicate effectively across these differences.
Take a cue from Younger again. Liza constantly walks a tightrope between her younger colleagues’ reliance on social media and her own discomfort with oversharing online.
Yet she learns to adapt, without completely giving up who she is. Craft moments where characters miscommunicate due to their generational tech habits.
Let an older character accidentally post something embarrassing on Slack, or have a younger character become exasperated when a senior refuses to respond to anything but phone calls.
Then, bring them back together. Show how they find common ground — maybe with humor, maybe with patience.
The world is changing, and so are we. How will your characters evolve together?
Remember The Office episode where Michael Scott tries to forward a joke through email, only for it to go terribly wrong?
Perfect example of how generational gaps in technology usage can make for both comedy and tension in a workplace setting.
4. Navigating Power Dynamics
One of the most intriguing aspects of multi-generational workplace dynamics is the power struggle.
Who’s in charge? How does a younger character manage an older team? What happens when an older worker feels sidelined by a younger, more tech-savvy colleague?
These are real issues many workplaces face today, and they can provide endless tension — and growth — for your characters.
In Younger, Liza often finds herself in situations where her “younger” self is given more freedom than her older, more experienced self would be.
The illusion of youth gives her a sort of power over her colleagues. But at the same time, her age brings a certain level of insecurity about fitting in. That duality creates a rich dynamic where age, experience, and perception all play into the balance of power.
Let your characters grapple with these power dynamics. Maybe the younger character is eager to prove themselves but lacks the experience, while the older character feels threatened but has wisdom to offer.
There’s potential for conflict, but also for collaboration. That tension is where your story can shine.
Think about the movie The Intern, where Robert De Niro plays a retiree who interns for a much younger Anne Hathaway. Their dynamic shifts over time as they learn to respect and lean on each other’s strengths.
5. The Secret Sauce — Respect
At the heart of multi-generational relationships — whether at work or in friendships — is respect.
Without it, your characters are doomed to fail. It doesn’t matter how much tech knowledge or experience someone has. If they can’t respect the person across from them, there’s no way the relationship will work.
In Younger, Liza and her colleagues don’t always see eye to eye. There are misunderstandings, conflicts, and the occasional drama.
Yet, through it all, the characters respect each other’s differences, and that respect is what allows their relationships to grow.
As you’re writing, think about the moments where your characters truly see each other — not as old or young, but as equals. Those are the moments that will resonate with readers.
Think about Parks and Recreation.
Leslie Knope’s respect for Ron Swanson — despite their wildly different views — makes their friendship one of the show’s highlights.
Time Isn’t The Enemy
Multi-generational friendships and workplace dynamics are all about growth, evolution, and understanding.
Time isn’t the enemy in these relationships — it’s the thing that binds them.
Older characters can learn from younger ones and vice versa. It’s that give and take, that dance between wisdom and innovation, that makes these relationships work.
As you write your characters, let them be shaped by the people around them.
Let them struggle with their differences, but also find common ground.
Because in the end, no matter how many years separate them, we’re all just trying to figure it out, one bad decision at a time.
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