Bridging the Gap

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Bridging the Gap

• Reaching the Next Generation of League Leaders

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Phenomenon
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Lets talk about a different phenomenon. . .
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Each Generation. . .

• Expectations
• World-views
• Modes of communicating
• Defining moments

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Each generation is its own culture.
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You might hear. . .

• Seniors are the ones who care about the broader
  community and are the backbone of volunteer
  programs and service organizations. Young people
  are selfish and dont want to make commitments.

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Or this. . .

• Young people are the true activists today. Older
  people may do nice, helpful things as volunteers,
  but cutting-edge work for social change is being
  done mainly by the young.

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What Does this Mean for League?

• Understand differences
• Embrace differences
• Be open to try something new and relinquishing
  some power

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• Were generalizing here.

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• Watch out for Cuspers!

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Silent Generation

• Born 1925 to 1945
• 30 million Americans
• DEFINING MOMENT Pearl Harbor, 12/7/41

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Values

• Dedication to their job
• Follow the rules
• Respect for authority
• Prefer hierarchal organization
• Patient (dont need instant gratification)
• Traditional expectations
• May use computers to communicate with children
  and grandchildren
• Cautious about technology

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Baby Boomers

• Born 1946 to 1962
• 80 million Americans
• Largest generation in US history
• DEFINING MOMENT President John Kennedys
  assassination, 11/22/63

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Values

• May have workaholic tendencies
• Loyal to organizations
• Support personal causes
• Hard workers (want gratification
• from work)
• Seek self-improvement and growth
• Like technology that works and makes their
  lives easier

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Gen X

• Born 1963 to 1980
• 45 million Americans
• DEFINING MOMENT Challenger Disaster, 1/28/86

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Values

• Seek balance between work, volunteerism and
  personal life
• Loyal to people
• Relatively informal team work and volunteer
  style
• Self reliant
• Want to have fun at work and volunteer activities
• Like to work with latest technology
• Aware of diversity and think globally

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Gen Y/ Millennials

• Born 1981 to 2002
• 70 million Americans
• Children of boomers
• DEFINING MOMENTS Columbine High School Killings,
  4/20/99 and World Trade Towers Bombing, 9/11/01.

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Values

• Demand balance between work, volunteerism and
  personal life
• Self-assured and achievementfocused
• Loyal to ideas, causes and products
• Strong morals and community service
• Eager to make a positive impact while
  volunteering
• Tolerant
• Expect the latest technology
• Expect an active voice in decision making and
  planning
• Want immediate feedback

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Commonalities?

• To Feel valued 85
• Recognition and appreciation 74
• A Supportive environment 73
• A Capable workforce 72
• To Be part of a team 68

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So whats the big deal?
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• Respect

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Work/Volunteer-Life Balance

• Boomers
• Live to Work!
• Work is a location
• Gen X/ Gen Y
• Work to Live!
• Work is an activity

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Scenario 1

• Wow! You remind me so much of my granddaughter.

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OR. . . .

• Wow! You remind me so much of my grandma!

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Scenario 2

• The League President explains the details of a
  very important project, but. . .
• the Communications Chair, keeps checking her
  iPhone during the Board Meeting.

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Scenario 3

• The board is discussing the weekly hot topics
  luncheon theyve been doing for years. The newest
  member of the board is vocal about some new
  ideas.

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Scenario 4

• One board member thinks that it would be great to
  start up a League Facebook page, but there is a
  lot of resistance at the board meeting.

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• The solution to generational differences has to
  do more with respecting people as people and
  unique individuals than any prescribed formula.
• Paula Gregorowics, The Paula G Company

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Questions for League

• In recruiting for and recognizing volunteers, do
  we imply that older or younger people are the
  most involved or are the best?

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Questions for League

• Do we determine goals and choose activities
  without any consideration for whether another age
  group is also involved in some way?

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Questions for League

• Do we confuse changes in volunteering with the
  demise of volunteering?

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Other Thoughts

• Meeting in the middle
• Different isnt wrong
• Focus on similarities and strengths

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Special Thanks to

• PART TWO Managing Event Volunteers Across
  Generations by Florence May
• Bridging the Generation Gap Workplace Learning
  and Performance Building the Skills for Your
  Success facilitated by Deborah Laurel for the
  South Central Library System, Laurel and
  Associates, Ltd.
• Understanding the Different Cultures of
  Different Generations by Peter Brinckerhoff, the
  Bridgespan Group

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Special Thanks to

• The Volunteer Generation Gap by Susan J. Ellis,
  http//www.energizeinc.com/hot/resjul00.html
• Generations at Work, by Ron Zemke, Claire Raines,
  and Bob Filipczak. (New York AMACOM, 2000) pp.
  63-91