I've been in the professional workforce since the late 80's, but my understanding of work started much earlier, waitressing, working as a medical assistant, managing a McDonald's. Those jobs taught me that work is not abstract. It is rent. It is identity. It is pride. People bring their whole lives with them, whether leadership acknowledges it or not. I do not have one defining moment that taught me how to lead across generations. I have many. And most of them happened in quiet rooms no one else wanted to be in. I have sat across from people during reductions in force and watched the reactions differ sharply by experience. Some who had lived through multiple cycles processed it with painful realism. Others, newer to the workforce, looked stunned, like the rules had changed without warning. Neither response was wrong. They were simply shaped by different histories. I have also sat with employees on performance improvement plans, particularly those later in their careers, watching tears fall as they struggled to master new technology. Not because they were not capable, but because they were exhausted, afraid, and quietly wondering if there was still a place for them. In those moments, leadership is not about policy or process. It is about dignity. Those experiences forced me to confront my own assumptions. They taught me that leading across generations is not about favoring one group over another. It is about recognizing that people are carrying different weights. It means checking my biases, relying on colleagues who will challenge my perspective, and grounding decisions in facts rather than narratives. Integrity and confidentiality have always been non negotiable for me. I am deeply aware that I have to live with my decisions long after the meeting ends and that one day I will have to answer for them. That reality keeps me honest. It reminds me that leadership is not about being liked or impressive, but about being responsible. In the end, leading across generations comes down to modeling the behavior I expect from others: respect, accountability, and humanity. Titles change. Generations change. But how you treat people in their most vulnerable moments is what stays with them. And with you.