1. Bridging the Generation Gap
Retreat of Awakening 2015
Have you ever had the feeling that people younger than you are difficult to understand?
Or, have you felt like older people just don't get it?
Maybe you find it easier to connect with people who are closer to your age
These types of feelings are known as Generation Gap. I am not the expert of this subject, but here to facilitate our discussions of it so that
we will better understand how our environment and upbringing shapes who we are, in order to cultivate more understanding, empathy, and compassion towards those we interact with at home, workplace, temple/chùa.
Bridging the Generation Gap
Facilitated by Vân Nguyễn – 15Aug2015

2. There are 6 Living Generations in America: -- GI Generation:
There are 6 Living Generations in America: -- GI Generation: Born Mature/Silents: Born Baby Boomers: Born Gen X: Born Gen Y/Millennials: Born Gen Z/Boomlets: Born after The dates for GI, Mature, and Baby Boomer and the beginning of Gen X are set and do not change. The dates for the end of Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z fluctuate depending on what source you are using. (

3. BORN 1946 – 1964 (51-69 yrs old) BORN 1965 - 1980 (35-50 yrs old) BORN
BABY BOOMERS
GEN X
MILLENNIALS
BORN
1946 – 1964
(51-69 yrs old)
BORN
(35-50 yrs old)
BORN
(15-34 yrs old)
For our purpose today, we will only be discussing these 3 Generation groups: Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials
Researchers have classified certain characteristics, values, and beliefs for each group.
Keep in mind that you may possess some of these attributes, not all of them, as these classifications aim at capture the ‘average’ person.
Everyone is different and not everyone fits into this analysis, but for the most part you can generalize their behavior.

4. Which generation do you relate to?
I have 5 questions to see how we are similar to the Generation Group that researchers have classified us in

5. What was your home like?
A) Mom stayed home as children were seen as “special” B) Latch-key kids. Dual-income family C) Blended family. Coddled kids (they got a trophy for coming in 8th place)
Latch key = come home from school by themselves
A blended family is formed when a couple moves in together bringing children from previous relationships into one home
Coddled kids = every one is a winner, kids get a trophy for coming in last place

6. What was your home like?
Boomer
A) Mom stayed home as children were seen as “special” B) Latch-key kids. Dual-income family C) Blended family. Coddled kids (they got a trophy for coming in 8th place)
Gen X
Millennial

7. What are your aspirations at work?
Work life balance
B) Job security
C) Freedom and flexibility
What are your aspirations, hope and ideals, of the best workplace?
Work Life Balance = work is important, but you want a job that will allow you to take off and enjoy your personal life
Job security = once you get a job, if you stay there until retirement, you will be happy
Freedom & flexibility

8. What are your aspirations at work?
Gen X
Work life balance
B) Job Security
C) Freedom and flexibility
Boomer
Gen x - Because of parents who are Boomer workaholics, they focus on clearer balance between work and family. Do not worry about losing their place on the corporate team if they take time off.
Boomers - Were hesitant of taking too much time off work for fear of losing their place on the corporate team. As a result, there is an imbalance between work and family.
Millennials - Not only balance with work and life, but balance with work, life and community involvement and self development. Flex time, job sharing, and sabbaticals will be requested more by this generation.
Buzz phrase:
Millenial = work & life integration, not about balance but about freedom to choose when to work and when to stay
Millennial

9. What do you value?
Individuality
B) Success
C) Time

10. What do you value? Individuality B) Success C) Time Millennial Boomer
Gen X

11. How do you deal with money?
Cautious, conservative (save, save, save)
B) Earn to spend
C) Buy now, pay later

12. How do you deal with money?
Gen X
Cautious, conservative (save, save, save)
B) Earn to spend
C) Buy now, pay later
Millennial
Millenial spend money to live a more fulfilled, foodie – take pic of their food, jumping pic of the location they’re travelling to, spend $ on good food, on travel
Who takes photo of their food? Roadtrips? Selfie at places to embrace their living experience
Boomer

13. Is your work focused on:
Tasks and results
B) Global and networked
C) 1:1, face-to-face, relationships and results
Global and Networked = how it affects the global, across the continents; bigger pic, they want to fix the world problem, green house gas, technology
1:1 = face to face
Baby Boomer & Millenial are more similar – relationship oriented

14. Is your work focused on:
Gen X
Tasks and results
B) Global and networked
C) 1:1 relationships and results
Millennial
Boomer

15. Baby Boomers Influencers:
This photo album contains sample pages to get you started.
To add your own pages, click the Home tab, and then click New Slide.
Baby Boomers
Influencers:
Civil Rights, Vietnam War, Sexual Revolution, Cold War/Russia, Space Travel
Post War Babies who grew up to be radicals of the 70’s and yuppies of the 80’s.
“The American Dream” was promised to them as children and they pursue it. As a result they are seen as being greedy, materialistic and ambitious.
Political influence

16. Baby Boomers Attributes: Ambitious Loyal to careers and employers
This photo album contains sample pages to get you started.
To add your own pages, click the Home tab, and then click New Slide.
Baby Boomers
Attributes:
Ambitious
Loyal to careers and employers
Challenge authority, competitive
Consensus leadership, consumerism
Ethical, idealism, live to work, multi-taskers,
Optimistic, strong work ethic
If you are a Baby Boomer and think of some of the Baby Boomers you know, you may see these characteristics in them.

17. Generation X Influencers:
Watergate, Energy Crisis, End of Cold War, Increase divorce rate.
Their perceptions are shaped by growing up having to take care of themselves early and watching their politicians lie and their parents get laid off.
Came of age when USA was losing its status as the most powerful and prosperous nation in the world.

18. Generation X Attributes: Adaptable
Independent, self-starters, self-sufficient
Confident, flexible, focus on results
Unimpressed with authority
Angry but don’t know why
Skeptical of institutions

19. Millennials Influencers:
Digital Media, school shootings, AIDS, 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Hope to be the next great generation to turn around all the “wrong in the world” today
Grew up more sheltered than any other generation as parents strived to protect them from the evils of the world
Came of age in a period of economic expansion.
First generation of children with schedules

20. Millennials Attributes: At ease in teams
Best educated, diversity focused
Attached to their gadgets and parents
Techno savy, High speed stimulus junkies
Focus on change using technology
Seek responsibility early in their roles

21. Work Ethic BABY BOOMERS GEN X MILLENNIALS LONG HOURS Driven
Workaholic –
to establish self-worth and fulfillment
PRODUCTIVITY
Self-reliant
Work smarter and with greater output, not longer hours
Want structure and direction
CONTRIBUTION
Ambitious
What’s next?
Multitasking
See bigger picture
1) There are general thoughts that Millennials are attached to gadgets, but also to their parents. Everything is spoon fed, don’t have to work as hard, entitlement. What are your thoughts?
2) Talking to younger folks, they feel older folks are always reminding them that they have been through a lot, have to work a lot. Is this being done in hopes of motivating young folks to be a workaholic?

22. Values BABY BOOMERS GEN X MILLENNIALS Relationship focused
Willing to take risks
Value ambition, collaboration, equality, personal growth
Work/life balance
Outcome oriented
Want to get in, get the work done, and move on to the next thing.
Want to be evaluated on work product – not how, when, or where it got done
Looking for meaningful work and innovation

23. Communication BABY BOOMERS GEN X MILLENNIALS
In person, 1:1 relationship
Speak open and direct
Avoid manipulative/controlling language
Blunt/direct
Share immediately and often
Don’t micro-manage
Tie your message with results
Use positive, respectful, motivational style
Don’t talk down – they will resent
Tie goals and aspirations to message
Have you worked with someone older, who was not open to try new ideas? How did you overcome it?
Have you worked with someone younger who was always to bring in new ideas, fixing things that were not broken?

25. Tips for the younger generation:
Show. Don’t tell.
Show your boss how you use new tools and platforms so that your boss knows they are a part of your daily work flow.
Listen with respect and ask questions. Your older coworker has been working in this industry for so long for a reason, and they have years of institutional knowledge. You can learn from them. Asking questions doesn’t just help you learn, but it also makes your coworker feel valued.
Switch up how you communicate. Pick up the phone. Sometimes a phone call will accomplish so much more than a text message. Nuance is lost in text, and a smiley face does not convey tone.
Be polite. We know you have manners. But sometimes manners are lost over text and . It’s worth using pleasantries like “Dear X” and “Sincerely” in s.

26. Tips for the older generation:
Your next mentor may be younger than you, and that’s OK. Adapt.
The old ways aren’t necessarily better; we have just been doing them longer. Sometimes it’s necessary to adapt, or risk not making it in the industry.
Ask for help. Ask your kids. Ask those geniuses at the Apple store. Half the battle is knowing what to ask so you can level the playing field.
Compromise. Be prepared for change, and be ready to embrace new ideas from this new generation of business leaders. Accept that you are not always going to be right.
Learn new ways to communicate. Make sure you get on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram. Learn to text and Snapchat. It might seem like a fad, but it will open up amazing in-roads with the younger generation.

27. By better understanding how other Generations are similar and different to yourself, you can create better ways to live and work together and communicate more effectively.