Top 4 Ways to Communicate With Baby Boomers

The Baby Boomer generation is made up of people born between 1946 and 1964.  They are between the ages of 57 to 76 as of 2022.  This population is known for being a generation that impacted and pushed for a lot of change and advancements in the world around them.  They lived through the Korean and Vietnam wars, the civil rights movement, space aviation, and many forms of technological advancements.

Some of the characteristics of the Baby Boomer generation include being competitive, mentally focused, disciplined, independent, and goal centric.  They also value relationships, tend to be self-assured, outspoken, and opinionated.

Many Baby Boomers are now at an age where they have become family caregivers to their aging parents.  They are experiencing the advantages and disadvantages to growing older and relying on long term care services.  As adult children of older parents, they are learning the ins and outs of coping with Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related illnesses, the various senior living and in-home care options that are available for support, the aging process, and the health consequences of an unhealth lifestyle, and the financial challenges with aging and longevity.

If you work with Baby Boomers or cater to this population as a service provider, understanding how they like to communicate is important.  This is a “no nonsense” generation that uses strong communication skills to analyze their options and make decisions.

 

1. Body Language – Baby Boomers rely more on body language than words. They prefer in-person conversations whenever possible.
2. Open and Direct Communication – Baby Boomers are direct communicators meaning that they don’t like to beat around the bush, and they want the facts without the “fluff”. Be transparent and open when explaining your services and offer examples of what other customers have experienced with your products or services
3. Do Not Use Controlling Language – Baby Boomers are independent and self-assured individuals. Be sure not to use phrases such as, “you’ll do this”, or “you need to”, or “you should do that”.
4. They Value Relationships – Baby Boomers will do business with people they like and trust. When communicating, it is best to focus on forming a relationship first before selling them on a product or service.  Set aside the time to get to know them and share who you are to start the relationship building process.  This will go a long way.