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Generational Differences So What?
Presented by Alma W. Hughes VP/Leadership
Consultant
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Objectives

• Discuss those characteristics that generally
  identify each generation in the workforce today
• Gain an understanding of the issues involved with
  having representatives from multiple generations
• Provide an opportunity to consider the impact of
  generational behaviors in the workplace
• Develop a list of best practices for dealing
  with generational differences

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Generations Where do we begin?
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Census Data
Baby Boomers
Gen X
Gen Y
Veterans
Births (in thousands)
Birth Year
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Characteristics of Generations

• Experience the same world or national events
• Experiences cut across race, gender, economic
  factors
• Can be significant individual differences
• Those born late in the generation may resemble
  the next generation more

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US Workforce Today

• Mature (Veterans) 1925 1945
• 5 of todays national workforce
• Sometimes called the Silent Generation
• Baby Boomers 1946 1964
• 45 of todays work force

• Gen Xers (Baby Busters or Echo Boomers) 1965
  1979
• 40 of todays national workforce
• Millennial (Generation Ys/Nexters) 1980
  2000
• 10 of todays national workforce
• 80 million entering adulthood during next decade

Stats based on information from Deloitte (8/2006)
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Generation Veterans/Traditionalists
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Veterans/Traditionalists

• The Greatest Generation
• Born 1925 - 1945
• Shared Experiences
• Great Depression
• World War II
• Prosperity after the War
• Remember Pearl Harbor
• The day FDR died
• Korean War

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Veterans/Traditionalists

• Characteristics
• Basic experience is with large organizations
• Commitment to whole rather than individualism
• Conservative
• Command-and-control leadership approach
• Are not surprised by tough times

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Veterans/Traditionalists Influential
People/Events

• Key Word Loyal

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Veterans/Traditionalists

• Value Logic and Discipline
• Dont Like Change
• Want to Build a Legacy

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Generation Baby Boomers
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Baby Boomers

• Largest US Generation
• Born 1946 - 1964
• Grew up in optimistic times
• Shared Events
• John F Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther
  King
• Civil Rights
• Vietnam
• Man on the Moon
• Kent State

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Baby Boomers

• Characteristics
• See themselves as constantly seeking change
• Focused on their personal gratification
• Interested in learning new skills
• Workaholics
• Interested in workplace community
• Political

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Baby Boomers Influential People

• Key Word Optimistic

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Baby Boomers

• Me Generation
• Money, Title, Recognition
• Want to Build A Stellar Career

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Generation Generation X
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Gen Xers

• Small Generation
• Born 1965 - 1980
• Grew up in the shadow of the Boomers
• Turned off by the media
• Latchkey kids
• Shared Events

American hostages held in Iran Challenger
Watergate PC Boom
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Gen Xers

• Characteristics
• Survivor Mentality
• Self-reliant
• Want a balanced life
• Grew up with technology
• Multi-tasking is the norm

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Gen Xers Influential People
Key Word Skepticism
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Gen Xers

• Possibly Most Misunderstood Generation
• Need a balance between work and life - Freedom
• Flexible and Motivated
• Want to Build a Portable Career

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Generation Generation Y/Nexters/Millenials
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Gen Y/Nexters/Millenials

• Born 1980 - 2000
• Time will tell
• Shared Events
• Oklahoma City Bombings
• Internet
• Advances in Technology
• Columbine
• World Trade Center

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Gen Y/Nexters/Millenials

• Characteristics
• Technology is the norm
• Geographic boundaries less important
• Constant pressure to excel

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Gen Y/Nexters/Millenials
Influential People/Events
Key Word Realistic
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Gen Y/Nexters/Millenials

• Value Diversity/Change
• Been Involved in Technology Their Entire Life
• Want Work to be Meaningful

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Generations So what?
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What Does All This Mean?

• Make no assumptions about anyone
• Individuals within groups vary greatly
• Look for similarities
• Supervisors and managers must be skilled in
  managing different generations
• Match the communication with the individual
• New ways of working such as stretch assignments
  will continue to be in demand
• One Size Fits All policies wont work

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Communication Tips

• Veterans
• Build trust through inclusive language (we, us)
• A leader's word is his/her bond, so focus more on
  words, not body language
• Face-to-face or written communication is received
  best
• Use more formal language
• Don't waste their time they have a job to do
• Don't expect them to share their innermost
  thoughts immediately

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Communication Tips

• Baby Boomers
• Boomers are the "show me" generation, so use body
  language to communicate
• Speak in an open, direct style but not
  necessarily formal
• Answer questions thoroughly, and expect to be
  pressed for details
• Avoid controlling, manipulative language
• Present options to show flexibility in your
  thinking
• Use face to face or electronic communication to
  reach out to them

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Communication Tips

• Gen Xers
• Use e-mail as your primary communication tool
• Learn their language and speak it
• Talk in short sound bytes to keep their attention
  
• Present the facts, use straight talk
• Ask them for their feedback
• Share information with them immediately and often
  
• Use an informal communication style
• Listen! You just might learn something

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Communication Tips

• Millennial/Gen Y
• Let your language paint visual pictures
• Use action verbs to challenge them
• Don't talk down to them they will resent it
• Show respect through your language, and they will
  respect you
• Use e-mail and voicemail as primary communication
  tools
• Use visual communication to motivate them and
  keep them focused
• Constantly seek their feedback
• Use humor. Reassure them that you don't take
  yourself too seriously
• Encourage them to break the rules and explore new
  paths or options

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Generations So what do we do?!!
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Table Activity

• In your organization
• What is the greatest concern you have as a result
  of generational differences?
• What are you doing about it?
• What are you planning to do about it?

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Activity

• Based on your sharing, develop a list of Best
  Practices for addressing issues related to
  managing generational differences
• Please remember to
• If the best practice is in practice, document
  where
• If possible, include a contact person

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GenerationsSo what can we conclude?!!
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All Generations Relate
Collaborative
Open
Creative
Innovative
Timely
Participatory
Bold
Connected
Exciting
Purposeful
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All Generations Want
3 Rs and 3 Cs

• Respect
• Recognition
• Remembered

• Coached
• Consulted
• Connected

Taken from Decoding Generational Differences by
W. Stanton Smith
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Contributions

• When Generations Collide Who They Are. Why They
  Clash. How To Solve the Generational Puzzle at
  Work
• Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman,
  www.generations.com

• Generation Y and the War for Talent
• The Future of Recruitment, Retention and
  Engagement (A webinar)
• Developed by Jay Jamrog (Institute for
  Corporate Productivity

• Generation Y Perspectives (A presentation)
• Developed by Garret, Kristen, Aaron and Nick
  (NASA)

• TalentBuilder
• A workshop for Managers developed by Dr. Caela
  Farren

• Leading a Multigenerational Nursing Workforce
  Issues, Challenges and Strategies
• Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, CNAA, www.medscape.com

• Decoding Generational Differences Fact,
  fiction or should we just get back to work?
• W. Stanton Smith, Principal, National Director,
  Next Generation Initiatives Talent, Deloitte LLP

• Workforce Crisis How to Beat the Coming
  Shortage of Skills and Talent
• Ken Dychtwald, Tamara J. Erickson, Robert Morison

Additional information provided in presentations
Dr. Cynthia Scott and Ann Raftery