Generations in Scouting Southern Region Course Directors’ Development Conference October, 2009 Solving the Puzzle

“If a fisherman baits his hook with the kind of food that he likes himself, he will not catch many, certainly not the shy, game kind of fish. He therefore uses as bait the kind of food that the fish like.” “If a fisherman baits his hook with the kind of food that he likes himself, he will not catch many, certainly not the shy, game kind of fish. He therefore uses as bait the kind of food that the fish like.” —Lord Baden-Powell

Generation: A group of people born in the same time frame with common cultures and attitudes

What Difference Does It Matter? Different generations have different values, experiences, learning methods, attitudes, behaviors and motivational buttons Different generations have different values, experiences, learning methods, attitudes, behaviors and motivational buttons

Who Are They? Greatest Generation Born Greatest Generation Born Veterans/Traditionalists Veterans/Traditionalists age: 64 & up age: 64 & up Baby Boomers Born Baby Boomers Born age: age: Generation X Born Generation X Born age: age: Millennials Born Millennials Born Generation Y/We Generation Y/We age: 9-31 age: 9-31

People develop values and outlook based on their world and experiences from birth to about age 10 Sociologist Morris Massey

Turnings High Awakening Unraveling Crisis 1945 – Early 1960’s 1963–Early1980’s Early 1980’s – 9/11/2001 9/11/2001toPresent

Experiences/Events – Greatest Generation Great Depression Great Depression World War II World War II Korean War Korean War

Experiences/Events – Baby Boomers Civil Rights Civil Rights Sexual Revolution Sexual Revolution Cold War Cold War Space Travel Space Travel Vietnam War Vietnam War

Experiences/Events – Generation X Fall of Berlin Wall Fall of Berlin Wall Watergate Watergate Desert Storm Desert Storm Energy Crisis Energy Crisis Latchkey kids Latchkey kids

Experiences/Events – Millennials Columbine Shootings Columbine Shootings Oklahoma City Bombing Oklahoma City Bombing Technology: Personal computers, DVRs, MTV Technology: Personal computers, DVRs, MTV Child Focused world Child Focused world Challenger Explosion Challenger Explosion Clinton/Lewinsky Clinton/Lewinsky

What Are Their Values? What is Their Mindset? What is Important to Them? Why is this Important to Us?

Greatest Generation – Values Hard working Hard working Dedication & sacrifice Dedication & sacrifice Honor & trust Honor & trust Duty before pleasure Duty before pleasure Respect for rules & authority Respect for rules & authority Formal Formal

Greatest Generation Leadership style Leadership style Directive - command and control Directive - command and control Tradition & seniority Tradition & seniority More willing to serve on committees More willing to serve on committees More dependable and trustworthy More dependable and trustworthy Wealthy Wealthy

Baby Boomers – Values Optimistic Optimistic Team players Team players Personal fulfillment Personal fulfillment Involvement Involvement

Baby Boomers Workaholics Workaholics Motivated mainly by success Motivated mainly by success Question authority Question authority Not always comfortable with technology Not always comfortable with technology Leadership style Leadership style consensual, collegial consensual, collegial

Baby Boomers Like coming together to solve problems Like coming together to solve problems Believe in value of meetings to support relationships Believe in value of meetings to support relationships Comfortable making commitments & assuming leadership roles Comfortable making commitments & assuming leadership roles Reluctant to implement change Reluctant to implement change

Generation X – Values Diversity Diversity Technically literate Technically literate Fun and informal Fun and informal Self-reliant Self-reliant Better educated than previous generations Better educated than previous generations

Generation X Skeptical Skeptical Want structure & direction Want structure & direction More interested in personal return on their investment More interested in personal return on their investment Leadership style Leadership style Everyone is the same; ask why Everyone is the same; ask why MERITocracy MERITocracy

Generation X Comfortable working alone Comfortable working alone Hate endless meetings - they are bottom line, to the point, result oriented Hate endless meetings - they are bottom line, to the point, result oriented Look for a personal connection - making a difference in life of one person Look for a personal connection - making a difference in life of one person

Generation X Generation X Motivated by enjoyable experiences Motivated by enjoyable experiences Consider free time more important Consider free time more important Want freedom to try new things in new ways Want freedom to try new things in new ways Value access to information and love plenty of it Value access to information and love plenty of it

Millennials – Values Civic duty - loyal Civic duty - loyal Confident Confident Optimistic Optimistic Goal oriented Goal oriented

Millennials Millennials Like to work with bright, creative people Like to work with bright, creative people Like to achieve and effect change Like to achieve and effect change Look for challenges Look for challenges Like to work in groups - team players Like to work in groups - team players Leadership style - Get out of my way! Leadership style - Get out of my way!

Millennials Have lived highly structured lives Have lived highly structured lives Very adaptable - forward & progressive thinkers Very adaptable - forward & progressive thinkers Highly tolerant of differences - expect the same open mindedness regarding them Highly tolerant of differences - expect the same open mindedness regarding them

Millennials Want a life filled with endless variety Want a life filled with endless variety Impatient - become bored & restless easily - they are a generation on the go! Impatient - become bored & restless easily - they are a generation on the go! Exhibit strong interest in volunteerism Exhibit strong interest in volunteerism

Generational Learning Generational Learning Rote Memorization Classroom Classroom Extensive Study Extensive Study Boomers Gen X Greatest Generation Millennials Lecture Workshops Workshops Books & Manuals Course-based Learning Course-based Learning PowerPoint PowerPoint Exploration Exploration Hands On Hands On Role Playing Role Playing Learning through Play Learning through Play Learning is supposed to be fun! Media Centric Media Centric Kits Kits Mobile (iPod’s) Mobile (iPod’s) eLearning eLearning Software Software Video Video Web (Wiki’s, Blogs, Web (Wiki’s, Blogs, Podcasts, etc.) Podcasts, etc.) Stand-Alone

Younger Generations Don’t view age, seniority or rank as measures of expertise Don’t view age, seniority or rank as measures of expertise Not inclined to seek leadership positions that require more time Not inclined to seek leadership positions that require more time Comfortable with leadership that changes Comfortable with leadership that changes

Boomer: “We need to get this report done.” Another Boomer interprets it as an order. Generation X hears it as an observation

The Great Depression taught a generation to make sacrifices and be patient. The Information Age has taught its generations they never have to wait. They believe the patient are more likely to be run over than rewarded.

Younger Volunteers Balance is a fundamental value Balance is a fundamental value Willing to work hard but value what they receive (recognition, knowledge), time & fun Willing to work hard but value what they receive (recognition, knowledge), time & fun Quality is important Quality is important

Younger Generations Loyal to career but not to organization Loyal to career but not to organization If feel respected & valued, will be loyal to cause If feel respected & valued, will be loyal to cause Value diversity & assume equal opportunity Value diversity & assume equal opportunity High tech oriented High tech oriented

Younger Generations Values Mission Vision

How To Engage Younger Volunteers Engage them quickly & make them feel like insiders Engage them quickly & make them feel like insiders Give them meaningful assignments Give them meaningful assignments Listen to their preferences & concerns - ask their opinions Listen to their preferences & concerns - ask their opinions Be organized, prepared Be organized, prepared

What To Do Be sure it’s what they consider fun Be sure it’s what they consider fun Recognize their contributions Recognize their contributions Embrace diversity Embrace diversity Use electronic communication Use electronic communication Balance work and family time Balance work and family time

What Not To Do Don’t patronize or condescend Don’t patronize or condescend Don’t rely on history or experience to give you credibility Don’t rely on history or experience to give you credibility Don’t waste their time Don’t waste their time

How to Convince Them – Greatest Generation “You may improve your skills” “You may improve your skills” “Your experience is respected” “Your experience is respected”

Convincing Baby Boomers Want title recognition Want title recognition Sell each one individually Sell each one individually “You are needed” “You are needed”

Convincing Generation X What’s in it for them personally - how will it help their child? What’s in it for them personally - how will it help their child? Talk about results - the difference they can make Talk about results - the difference they can make Encourage flexibility and creativity Encourage flexibility and creativity Emphasize what they will learn and gain from volunteering Emphasize what they will learn and gain from volunteering

Convincing Millenials Want work to be meaningful Want work to be meaningful Promote the cause Promote the cause Focus on issues that represent community Focus on issues that represent community Promote collaboration, team spirit, diversity Promote collaboration, team spirit, diversity Talk about multiple options Talk about multiple options

WORKING WITH THE GENERATIONS Greatest Generation Before 1945 Boomers Gen X Millenials Job StrengthsStable, by-the-book Team player, competitive Adaptable, techno- literate Multi-tasker, techno-savvy Attitude & Outlook Practical, cooperative Positive, competitive Skeptical, pessimistic Optimistic, hopeful View of Authority RespectfulLove/Hate Unimpressed, not intimidated Accepting, deferential Leadership Style By hierarchy, seniority Participative, consensus By competence, straightforward Inclusive, averse to conflict Turnoffs Off-color comments and vulgarity Political incorrectness Hype and cliché Waiting and delays Diversity Experiences Ethnic segregation Beginnings of ethnic integration Integrated society as norm Realignment of racial majorities Performance Feedback Preference No news is good news Annually with documentation Interrupts and asks “How am I doing?” Wants instant and constant feedback Career Goals One employer for a lifetime, build a legacy, job security Visibility, recognition, maximize income Career portability, add to skills repertoire Parallel careers, opportunities to multi-task

It’s not us against them It’s not us against them Communicate!! Communicate!! Generations are willing to learn from and work with each other Generations are willing to learn from and work with each other Find a shared vision and work to make it happen Find a shared vision and work to make it happen Value Each Other

Zits Comic Strip Communication!

Value Each Other Value Each Other Understand the differences Understand the differences Recognize the strengths each generation brings Recognize the strengths each generation brings

BSA Online Learning Center Generational Diversity SR CDDC Site: Permission received from Randy Glasbergen to use his comics

Generational Learning Generational Learning Rote Memorization Classroom Classroom Extensive Study Extensive Study Boomers Gen X Greatest Generation Millennials Lecture Workshops Workshops Books & Manuals Course-based Learning Course-based Learning PowerPoint PowerPoint Exploration Exploration Hands On Hands On Role Playing Role Playing Learning through Play Learning through Play Learning is supposed to be fun! Media Centric Media Centric Kits Kits Mobile (iPod’s) Mobile (iPod’s) eLearning eLearning Software Software Video Video Web (Wiki’s, Blogs, Web (Wiki’s, Blogs, Podcasts, etc.) Podcasts, etc.) Stand-Alone