1. A Successful Multi-Generational Work Environment (From Backpacks to Briefcases-- or Notepads to I-Pads)
Megan Martin Training/Development Coordinator

2. The Effect of Our Times
The shared events and conditions each of us experience during our impressionable years help define the generation we grew up in.

3. The Effect of Our Times
The generation we grow up in is just one of the influences on adult behavior and work relationships.
allow me to be stereotypical

4. Why Learn About The Generations?
Age is one of the most common predictors of differences in attitudes and behaviors
Improve communication
Promote teamwork
Improve production, decrease costs; tailor programs and offerings to meet their needs

5. Four Generations At Work
Traditionalists (Matures): born
Baby Boomers: born
Generation X: born
Millennials (Generation Y): born
Generation Z: born after 2002
71 – 94 yrs old)
52 – 70 yrs old
36 – 51 yrs old
17 – 35 yrs old
13 – 18 yrs old

6. Four Generations At Work
Traditionalists (Matures): born
Baby Boomers: born
Generation X: born
Millennials (Generation Y): born
78 million
41 million
80 million

7. Four Generations At Work5%
40%
22%
2012

8. Four Generations At Work5%
40%
22%
Traditionalists – .6%
2012

9. Four Generations At Work

10. Generational Differences
What the older generation says about the younger generation:

11. Generational Differences
What the older generation says about the younger generation:
Young people
want to change
everything
They never
seem to want to
listen
They don’t
have much of a
work ethic
Tastes and
styles are different

12. Generational Differences
What the younger generation says about the older generation:

13. Generational Differences
What the younger generation says about the older generation:
They’re too
slow
They don’t
respect that
things are different
They lecture
too much
They’re always
Saying “When I
was your age…”

14. Generational Differences
May, 1968

15. Generational Differences
May, 1968

16. Shared Events Think about the shared events for each generation.
Think of news headlines, politics, entertainment, technology, leadership, etc.
Worksheet 1/2

17. Events and Experiences
Traditionalists:
Great Depression
FDR – One President
World War II
Radio
worksheet

18. Characteristics Traditionalists: Hard workers Dedication & sacrifice
Respect for rules
Duty before pleasure
Honor, loyalty without questioning
worksheet

19. Events and Experiences
Boomers:
Civil Rights Movement
Sexual Revolution/ Rock and Roll
Cold War
Space travel
Assassinations
worksheet

20. Characteristics Boomers: Confident
Solved problems by changing the rules
Hierarchy at work
Personal gratification
Live to work – their sense of identity
worksheet

21. Prehistoric
Googling

22. Events and Experiences
Xers:
Watergate
Women’s Liberation/Latch Key kids
Energy Crisis
Space Shuttle Challenger explodes
PCs and technology
worksheet

23. Characteristics Xers: Accept Diversity Techno literacy Informal
Self-reliant/independent
Pragmatic/practical
Good problem solvers
worksheet

24. Events and Experiences
Millennials:
Oklahoma City bombing
Columbine School shootings
9/11
Child focused world
Clinton / Lewinsky
Technology Explosion
worksheet

25. Characteristics Millennials Respect Diversity Techno embracing
Confident/Sense of entitlement
Volunteering/civic minded
Live in the immediacy of the moment
Good problem solvers if they are given choices
worksheet

26. Characteristics Millennials Digital assurance Digital reliance
Research everything and confer with lots of people (friends and family) before making a decision
Digital filtering, randomness
They choose what is the news, what they will pay attention to, decide/make their own news

27. Characteristics Generation Z Very entrepreneurial
Internet has broken down walls/opened up possibilities for Gen. Z to create and sustain their own businesses (YouTube)
Digital reliance, empowerment, arrogance
Set up their own brand on-line (selfies)
Self-educate and move forward based on info found on the internet
Digital education
Skype, FB, IM cloud/e.g. Google docs foster group collaboration and studying

28. Characteristics
Generation Z

29. A Successful Workplace Environment
Jennifer J. Deal, a researcher with the Center for Creative Leadership and
author of Retiring the Generation Gap: How Employees Young and Old Can Find Common Ground
Wisconsin State Journal;
Feb. 14, 2016

30. A Successful Workplace Environment
Jennifer J. Deal, a researcher with the Center for Creative Leadership and
author of Retiring the Generation Gap: How Employees Young and Old Can Find Common Ground
Wisconsin State Journal;
Feb. 14, 2016
Deal’s research suggests that focusing on the similarities among your younger and older coworkers is the key.

31. A Successful Workplace Environment
Jennifer J. Deal, a researcher with the Center for Creative Leadership and
author of Retiring the Generation Gap: How Employees Young and Old Can Find Common Ground
Wisconsin State Journal;
Feb. 14, 2016
Deal’s research suggests that focusing on the similarities among your younger and older coworkers is the key.
What are the fundamental similarities across all generations?
worksheet

32. What Are the Fundamental Similarities Among All the Generations?
worksheet

33. A Successful Workplace Environment
What are the fundamental similarities across all generations?
Jennifer J. Deal, a researcher with the Center for Creative Leadership and
author of Retiring the Generation Gap: How Employees Young and Old Can Find Common Ground, has found that:
regardless of generation, workers have similar values/strengths. They all want respect, want to trust their leaders, and want to learn. They are all uncomfortable with change and desire feedback.
Wisconsin State Journal;
Feb. 14, 2016

34. Leveraging Strengths GenX supervising Millennials
Millennials supervising Boomers
Millennials wanting feedback from Boomer or Traditionalist
4. Boomers and Traditionalists not retiring
5. Give millennials guidance and direction while appreciating their energy and self confidence.
Worksheet

35. Successful Work Place Environment
You’ve gotten to know some reasons why generations are they way they are.

36. Successful Work Place Environment
You’ve gotten to know some reasons why generations are they way they are.
You’ve talked about similarities across generations

37. Successful Work Place Environment
You’ve gotten to know some reasons why generations are they way they are.
You’ve talked about similarities across generations
You’ve talked about how to leverage their strengths.

38. Successful Work Place Environment
You’ve gotten to know some reasons why generations are they way they are.
You’ve talked about similarities across generations
You’ve talked about how to leverage their strengths.
What do all generations want in the workplace?
Worksheet

39. Successful Work Place Environment
What does a successful work environment look like?
Optimistic and clear leadership
Teamwork
Engaged and contributing employees
Work that challenges and fulfills
Work that meets a need
Clear expectations
Happy/content employees
Secure in budget/future
Fun and fulfilling work relationships – co-workers and supervisors/ connection
Connection
Profit from the Positive
Margaret Greenburg, Senia Maymin

40. A Successful Workplace Environment
What one thing have you learned today about the different generations, and how will you apply it to your work relationships?

41. Thank
You!

42. References
Zemke, Ron; Raines, Claire and Flipczak, Bob. Generations at Work: Managing the clash of Veterans, Boomers, Xers, and Nexters in Your Workplace. New York. AMACOM, 2000.
Lancaster C., Lynne, Stillman, David. When Generations Collide. Harper Collins, 2002
Center for Generational Studies
Office of Institutional Equity, Duke University
Nemiro, Jill; Beyerlin, Michael; Bradley, Lori; Generational Differences in Virtual Teams. Jossey-Bass 2008
U.S. Labor Force Statistics, 2012
PEW Research Center web