Baby Boomers Gen X & Gen Y How do we work together?

The Generations Veterans pre 1946 Veterans pre 1946 Baby Boomers1946 – 1964 Baby Boomers1946 – 1964 Generation X1965 – 1977 Generation X1965 – 1977 Generation Y1978 – 1994 Generation Y1978 – 1994

Understanding Y by Peter Sheahan Baby Boomers Generation X Generation Y Men of character Men & women of character What is character I love Lucy Happy Days Jerry Springer BeatlesMadonnaEminem Earn it It’s not everything Give it to me Work my way to the top Shortcut to the top Give me Saturday off or I’ll quit Ignorant of it Comfortable Feel it in their gut

Characteristics GEN X Both parents working Both parents working Latch key kids Latch key kids More resourceful More resourceful Individualistic, self reliant & irreverent Individualistic, self reliant & irreverent Relationships Relationships Outcomes Outcomes Their rights Their rights  Own view on corporate loyalty & status symbols Easy to recruit Easy to recruit Hard to retain Hard to retain Enjoy technology Enjoy technology GEN Y Optimistic, cyber kids Optimistic, cyber kids Confident & sociable Confident & sociable Strong morals Strong morals Passion community service Passion community service Comfortable with ethnicity Comfortable with ethnicity Workplace flexibility Workplace flexibility Think differently Think differently Mature, resilient & practical Mature, resilient & practical Fast learners Fast learners Multi-taskers Multi-taskers Team orientated Team orientated Technology is their bag Technology is their bag Grew up with Internet, speed & access to info Grew up with Internet, speed & access to info

Values VETERANS Privacy Privacy Hard work Hard work Trust Trust Formality Formality Authority Authority Social order Social order BABY BOOMERS Competition Competition Hard work Hard work Success Success Team work Team work Body language Body language Anti rules Anti rules Fight for a cause Fight for a cause GEN Y Positive reinforcement Positive reinforcement Positive attitude Positive attitude Diversity Diversity Money Money Technology Technology Team work Team work GEN X Entrepreneurial spirit Entrepreneurial spirit Independence Independence Creativity Creativity Information Information Feedback Feedback Quality work- life Quality work- life

Factors to consider: Gen X - most educated Gen X - most educated Gen Y - most technologically savvy Gen Y - most technologically savvy Boomers often took a job for life Boomers often took a job for life Gen Y - expect change jobs regularly Gen Y - expect change jobs regularly Gen X - want work / life balance Gen X - want work / life balance Gen Y – team focussed Gen Y – team focussed

We don't have to agree however we must strive to understand the different mind-sets and how each group sees the world based on their experiences

Differences & similarities to benefit our businesses

Veterans work first Veterans work first Baby Boomers live to work Baby Boomers live to work Generation X work to live Generation X work to live Generation Y live then work Generation Y live then work DIFFERENT OUTLOOK

Veteran Baby boomers Generation X Generation Y Formality See the steps leading to the goal Tell them what needs to be done, not how Provide opportunities for continuous learning Logic of actions Love pep talks Ask for reactions & opinions Be more of a coach, than a boss Traditional recognition Wide public profile style recognition Informal recognition day off Informal communication through /passage conversation

Benefits from multigenerational work teams More flexible More flexible Broad insight in your Broad insight in your customer base Talented people of all ages Talented people of all ages Decisions are stronger Decisions are stronger More innovative More innovative Meet the needs of diverse public Meet the needs of diverse public

Strategies Educate the managers & leaders Educate the managers & leaders Coach less experienced team members Coach less experienced team members Re-design jobs to fit Re-design jobs to fit Offer greater flexibility in work contracts Offer greater flexibility in work contracts Mobilise the workforce Mobilise the workforce Develop Learning Organisations Develop Learning Organisations Create more inclusive workplaces Create more inclusive workplaces

Examples Use IT savvy Gen Y with technology Use IT savvy Gen Y with technology Workplace flexibility Workplace flexibility Reward interest with projects Reward interest with projects Regular meetings Regular meetings Include in goal setting Include in goal setting Ask them what they want Ask them what they want

Motivational Tactics Respect Respect Straight talk Straight talk Good pay Good pay Interesting work Interesting work Feel their job is important Feel their job is important Defined roles & responsibilities Defined roles & responsibilities Opportunity for self-development Opportunity for self-development Amount of freedom & flexibility Amount of freedom & flexibility

Communicate with Xers Learn the language of X Learn the language of X Use & voice mail Use & voice mail Present facts, use straight talk Present facts, use straight talk Ask them for feedback Ask them for feedback Share info immediately & often Share info immediately & often Use an informal communication Use an informal communication Listen! Listen! Provide a challenging environment Provide a challenging environment Allow individual growth & development Allow individual growth & development Assign projects that stimulate Assign projects that stimulate

Communicate with Yers Paint pictures with words Paint pictures with words Use action verbs – cut the crap Use action verbs – cut the crap Don't talk down Don't talk down Show respect Show respect Use , voic & text Use , voic & text Use visual communication Use visual communication Constantly seek their feedback Constantly seek their feedback Use humor Use humor Encourage them to explore new options Encourage them to explore new options

Team Work Y Style Team members mix outside of work Team members mix outside of work Enjoy staff gatherings Enjoy staff gatherings Encourage to mix with workmates Encourage to mix with workmates Arrange social events to involve team Arrange social events to involve team

Y’s sense of team runs deep Get to know your team, as a team and as individuals Get to know your team, as a team and as individuals Be personable Be personable Your staff are people not cogs or numbers Your staff are people not cogs or numbers Do not patronise – they will run a mile Do not patronise – they will run a mile

Remember Gen X & Gen Y o They don’t tolerant poor leadership o They are not afraid to speak up o Use their communication medium o Use their terminology o Have fun at work!