How Trade Organizations Can Fix the Generational Disconnect (Without Losing the Culture That Built the Business)
If you’re constantly hiring but still coming up short, the issue might not be the labor market. It might be something deeper—a generational disconnect that’s quietly eroding trust, productivity, and retention.
In today’s trades workplaces, it’s common to see four generations working side by side. You’ve got veteran employees who’ve built the company’s foundation and younger workers who bring new skills and expectations to the table. When leaders don’t know how to bridge those differences, communication suffers, accountability slips, and your best people start walking out the door.
We see this play out all the time—especially in companies that promote top performers into leadership roles without giving them the tools to lead a multigenerational team. That’s where culture either grows stronger or starts to fracture.
In this episode of The People Strategy Podcast, Traci Austin sits with Kamber Parker Bowden, founder of Generational Performance Solutions, to talk about what trade organizations can do differently. Kamber brings hard-earned insight from over 5,000 interviews across 65+ industries—offering clear, actionable steps for creating a workplace where every generation feels seen, respected, and committed to the work.
This is a conversation about leadership in the real world—messy, human, and worth getting right.
What You’ll Learn:
[02:00] The biggest generational myths hurting your hiring strategy
[06:30] Why social media is a critical recruitment tool in trades
[12:45] What Millennials and Gen Z actually want from a job (hint: it’s not just pay)
[18:15] How to train leaders to manage and motivate multi-generational teams
[25:00] Simple changes that boost retention and engagement
Quotes That Hit Hard:
“Those who pivot and start to adjust and invest in social media will see success in the next decade because young professionals are digital natives.” — Kamber Parker Bowden
“If multi-generational communication is not strong, there is typically a lack of trust.” — Kamber Parker Bowden
“If we’re not meeting them where they’re at, what does that mean for our recruiting and retention efforts? That is a critical piece if you want the legacy of your business to be strong.” — Kamber Parker Bowden
Actions You Can Take Today:
- Rethink your hiring strategy: Use data to understand what today’s workforce is looking for.
- Optimize social media for recruiting: Make sure your employer brand is visible where job seekers are looking.
- Train leaders for generational engagement: Equip managers with the tools to lead teams across different age groups.
- Personalize retention efforts: Not every employee stays for the same reasons; find out what drives engagement for each group.
- Build a culture that attracts talent: Showcase your workplace values, success stories, and career growth opportunities online.
About Kamber Parker Bowden:
Kamber Parker Bowden is the Founder of Generational Performance Solutions (formerly YoPro Know). Over seven years later, the firm has become a leader in generational diversity, leveraging a vast knowledge base built from over 5,000 interviews and 50,000 hours of content, spanning professionals in 65+ industries across the U.S. This wealth of information informs their strategies, helping companies understand, hire, and retain an engaged, motivated workforce aligned with their values. What started as a platform to support young professionals has evolved into a consultancy that bridges ambitious talent with forward-thinking companies. Today, Generational Performance Solutions guides organizations in making informed decisions that not only meet current workforce demands but also prepare them for future challenges.
Brought to You By:
This episode is sponsored by the Leadership Development Program from Elevated Talent Consulting.
Do you have team members who’ve recently stepped into people leadership roles? Are they navigating the shift from doing the work to leading others through it?
In the Leadership Development Program, we partner with new and emerging leaders to help them build confidence and clarity in their role. Through practical, real-world learning, they’ll develop the core leadership skills they need — including time management, delegation, coaching, accountability, and leading through change.
This isn’t one-size-fits-all leadership. It’s personal, experiential, and built for the realities of the trades.
