Lost in Translation: Bridging the Multi-Generational Communication Gap with Geoff McLachlan
No More Leadership BS
Lost in Translation: Bridging the Multi-Generational Communication Gap with Geoff McLachlan
February 4, 2026
This week's episode breaks down why five generations in one workplace means you need to completely rethink how you communicate. From "no cap" to "finer than frog hair" — we're decoding the language barriers killing your team's effectiveness. Catch up before everyone else does.
Think you communicated just because you talked? Think again!

Here's the uncomfortable truth: George Bernard Shaw nailed it when he said "the single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." In today's multi-generational workplace, you've got Boomers sitting next to Gen Z, and they might as well be speaking different languages. One says "no cap, bro" while the other references being "finer than frog hair" — and nobody has a clue what anyone else actually means.

This episode tackles the messy reality of communication breakdown across five (yes, FIVE) generations now sharing workspace. Spoiler alert: sending more emails isn't the solution.


The Communication Handshake: Stop Talking AT People
Forget everything you thought you knew about "clear communication." The hosts break down why the workplace isn't suffering from a lack of communication — we're drowning in it through emails, texts, Slack messages, and meetings about meetings. The real crisis? Effectiveness.

The communication handshake isn't about how much you say; it's about ensuring what you said actually landed. And here's the kicker: it's the speaker's responsibility to make sure they're understood, not the listener's job to decode your corporate hieroglyphics. If someone doesn't get you, that's on you to adjust your delivery.


When Email Becomes the Enemy: The 50-Email Horror Story
Picture this nightmare scenario: Two employees sitting in facing cubicles exchange over 50 emails in a single day asking questions back and forth. The solution? Stand up and have a 30-second conversation. But they didn't. Why? Because different generations have wildly different comfort zones around communication methods.

The episode reveals how younger workers default to digital-first communication even when face-to-face would solve problems instantly. Meanwhile, AI-generated responses are making communication even more hollow and predictable, hiding behind "professionalism" instead of being real.


The Clarity Crisis: Common Systems vs. Generational Chaos
Here's what actually works: establishing agreed-upon common systems of communication within your team or organization. Whether that's specific AI tools, preferred meeting formats, or ground rules about when to email versus talk — clarity comes from shared understanding of how you'll communicate, not just what you communicate.

The conversation highlights that comfort zones are killing possibility. If you expect everyone to communicate on your terms only, good luck with that. Leaders need to meet people where they are while also coaching them into more effective practices. It's a two-way street requiring respect and flexibility from all generations.


The Bottom Line
Communication isn't about talking more or using the latest AI tool. It's about creating genuine understanding through:

Belly-to-belly beats email-to-email. Every. Single. Time.


Tune In For:
Want to stop wondering if anyone actually heard what you said? This episode gives you the blueprint for communication that actually sticks.

Have questions,  suggestions or just a great story to tell about some Leadership BS you have experienced? Let us know by emailing us 

Today's Featured Coach - 

Geoff McLachlan - Motivational Speaker, Trainer and Coach, Bringing Fun Back Into the Workplace,  Owner/Founder of Professionals At Play  Reach Geoff directly at [email protected] or 509-869-4506

The rest of the gang: