Work: Managing Across Generations Who Am I?

Caveats Generation generalizations Filters “Each generation seeks to remedy the perceived excesses of previous generations.” (Neil Howe, Bill Strauss)

“Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.” ─ George Orwell

Quick Review: Three Generations currently in the workforce Baby Boomers (48-65) Generation X (29-48) Millennial Generation (6-29)

Core Characteristics Baby Boomers Change Agents Self-Actualized Focus of Attention Group Oriented Idealistic Challenge Authority/Rules Focused

Core Characteristics Generation X Ignored Survivors CynicalCynical + ++ Individualists Rule Avoidance Self-Directed Pragmatic

Core Characteristics Millennials Team-Oriented Special Sheltered Before AfterBeforeAfter Confident Conventional Pressured Achieving

Baby Boomers Focus of Attention Self-Actualized Idealistic Group Oriented Challenge Authority/Rules Focused Change Agents Generation X Ignored Survivors Cynical Individualists Avoid the rules Self-Directed Pragmatic Millennials Special Sheltered Confident Team-Oriented Conventional Pressured Achieving

Boomers─Define a group as 6-7 people, very keen on consensus and involving everyone in decisions. Value cooperation over hierarchy. Xers─Define a group as 2-3 people, used to working alone, every person for themselves, not generally “people persons”. Millenials─Define a group as 9-10 people, leave no one behind, act on behalf of the group, less sense of individuality. Group Orientation

Work Ethic Boomers─Workaholics, challenge hierarchies, change corporate culture Xers─Nomadic, project managers, work-arounds Millenials ─Over-achievers, need structure, need rules

Family Attitudes Boomers─Obsessed with children, keep them safe, spend lots of time with them. Helicopter parents. Xers─Even more obsessed with children, keep them safe, spend quantity time with them. Blackhawk parents. Millennials ─Like their parents, like their parents’ music, see their parents as most important source of advice. Mom.mov Phone.mov

Please send questions to me at: or look for Generations at Work on Thanks for Your Time and Attention Questions???

Generational Quiz: Which Generation is being targeted? Boomers Generation X Millennials

Mom Dad

Ebay

Coke 1 Coke 2

Cell Phone 1 Cell Phone 2