I'm Gen Z, and most of my coworkers are baby boomers. I didn't expect to want to work more like them.

I am 24 years old and have been working at a bookstore alongside baby boomers for the past two years. The initial differences between us were evident, particularly in our approach to technology. I discovered that they favored a slower pace and focused on customer relationships, which I began to appreciate. One day, a coworker reached out with a technological issue, and I found myself stepping in to solve the problem, despite my limited tech skills.

At first, I felt confusion and a touch of awe, considering how successfully the business operated with limited technological focus. However, working with my baby boomer colleagues has altered my perspective on generational differences. I realized that our workplace disparities were immediately apparent – they handled analog tasks, while I managed the digital aspects.

They would prefer to focus on tasks such as organizing shelves, sweeping floors, and counting coins, and I was more than happy to assist in tasks like creating flyers and formatting recommendation sheets.

I had previously viewed many of the older generation's tech problems as a deliberate resistance to societal changes. Yet, I have come to understand that mastering computer proficiency is more akin to learning a language than obtaining a simple skill. It's simpler for me, being a 24-year-old native speaker, but I now have a newfound respect for the difficulty of adapting to such a change.

When attempting to teach my coworkers basic tech lessons, I no longer emphasize keyboard shortcuts but rather explain the concept's meaning and allow them to apply it.

Although they still rely on my assistance for larger digital tasks, they can now address smaller issues independently. Working at this independent bookstore has taught me to appreciate the slowness and intentional approach to work. In a society that values efficiency, this bookstore operates at a more measured pace, emphasizing connection over convenience.

My coworkers excel at remembering customer preferences and treating recommendations with due respect, a testament to their dedication to customer service. Their habits have become my own as I learned to value the slow, deliberate approach to work, even if it defies the norms of the modern workforce.