+

Bridging

Generational

Gaps

February 4, 2014

Christine Hassler, MA

+ What is a Generation?

Defined by:

Formative events

Parenting trends

Changes in technology

+

Matures Born before1945

Baby Boomers Born 1946-1964

Gen X Born 1965-1977

Gen Y

Born 1977-1995

Generational Landscape

+ Generational Continuum:

We, Nation, Team, Company

I, My, Individual, “What’s in it for me?”

Whatever it takes, Hours, Visibility, Face time

TIME • TEAMWORK • TECHNOLOGY

Success = Balance, Time as a Currency, Ownership

Luxury, Intimidating, Diversions, Toys

Reliance, Flexibility, New Skills

+

What makes each

generation unique?

MATURES (TRADITIONALISTS) Born: 1928 to 1945

30 Million

Formative Events:

Homogeneous families, neighbors, conformity

WWII

Great Depression

Pearl Harbor

First manned space flight

Significant increase in economic prosperity

Growth in white collar jobs

+ MATURES: Traits

Strong Military connection / duty and sacrifice

Respectful of authority / Hierarchical

Loyal to institutions / companies

“We First”

Motivated by financial rewards and security

Work ethic measured in timelines

Delayed gratification

Heroes: Groups

BABY BOOMERS Born: 1946 to 1964

80 Million

Formative Events:

Civil Rights Movement and Feminist Movement

Vietnam War

Assassinations of idealistic leaders

Watergate and Nixon’s resignation

The Cold War

+

Most Influential Generation

Work-a-holic

Anti-authoritarian

Motivated by changing the world

Last generation to pay dues in traditional ways

Believe teamwork is critical to success

Expect loyalty from those they work with

Running the show

Heroes: People they’ve never met

BOOMERS: Traits

+ GEN X Born:1965 to 1977

45 Million

Formative Events

Watergate

End of the Cold War – fall of the Berlin Wall

Challenger Explosion

The Gulf War

The PC boom / Internet

The Reagan Presidency

Women more fully integrated into the workforce

Significant increase in their parents’ divorce rates & unemployment

+ GEN X: Traits

Skeptical / Cynical

Prove it to me

Independent / Loners

Live for today, “carpe diem”

Work / Life balance

Believe their value is not in what they do, but in what they know

Heroes: People they know who have proven themselves

+

Formative Events:

9/11

Oklahoma City Bombing

Columbine

Global Warming

Katrina

Internet Boom

Dual-income Families

Strong Economy

Kid-centric Culture

GEN Y (MILLENNIALS) Born:1977 ~ 1995-(2000)

77 Million

+

Confident and conscious

Diverse and highly tolerant

Consumers of EVERYTHING

Tech dependent

Known affluence and fame

Instant Gratification

Multi-taskers and processors

Financial freshman

Heroes: Parents

GEN Y: Traits

+

Which traits unique to your generation do you

identify with?

What traits do you notice about other generations

in your workplace? Marketplace?

What did you learn about another generation that

has helped you understand someone you work

with, for, or who works for you?

What did you learn that helps you understand your

consumer better?

?????

+

+

Understanding generational

differences is the first step to

bridging them

+ See the Gap:

Summary of Different Views

Around Job Change

Matures – Believes it carries stigma

Boomers – Believes it puts you behind

Gen X – Believes it is necessary

Gen Y – Believes it is routine

+

Around Career Goals

Matures – Belief in building a legacy

Boomers – Belief in building an incredible career

Gen X – Belief in building a portable, flexible career

Gen Y – Belief in building a parallel, passionate career

See the Gap:

Summary of Different Views

+ See the Gap:

Summary of Different Views

Around Work Ethic

Matures – We First / Nose to the grindstone

Boomers – Pay your dues / Workaholic

Gen X – Prove it to me

Gen Y – Instant Gratification

+ See the Gap:

Summary of Different Views

Around Training

Matures – Learn from experience

Boomers – Learn from working hard

Gen X – Learn from training and education

Gen Y – Continuous learning and experience

+ See the Gap:

Summary of Different Views

Around Identity

Matures – Blend in

Boomers – Who I am is what I do

Gen X – Define themselves outside the office

Gen Y – Individuals with herd mentality

+ See the Gap:

Summary of Different Views

Around Communication

Matures – Come see me

Boomers – Call me

Gen X – Email me

Gen Y – Facebook or text me

+

Where are and what are the generational

gaps at your company?

In what ways are you challenged by

generational diversity?

How is it an issue for you, your team, and

company as a whole?

?????

+

Best Practices

+

Show respect, listen attentively

Acknowledge contributions . . . Humbly

Value their wisdom

Be spoken and written

Be clear, especially about changes

Invite discussion

Offer insights about co-workers and clients

Best Practices: MATURES

+

Acknowledge team & individual contributions

Value “face time”

Be succinct

Provide resources/tools to keep them up-to-date

and competitive

Retire retirement

Offer them options for greater responsibility (as

well as less)

Encourage giving back

Best Practices: BOOMERS

+ Best Practices: GEN X

Time is a Currency

Recognize their identity is outside the workplace

Customization and Flexibility (family friendly)

Offer a variety of career paths with next steps

Networking (“seen and be seen”)

Leverage their entrepreneurial instincts

Intrapreneurship

Money

Talk short-term

Prove it to them

+ Best Practices: GEN Y

First day unforgettable

Map out their career path

Provide frequent acknowledgement and feedback

Give detailed explanations and expectations

Celebrations!!!

Intrinsically motivate

Open-doors, asynchronous work, and device/sm freedom

Train and entertain

Reward with time and experiences

Be a coach

+

+ What is on the mind of Gen Y?

96% making money

91% being healthy

88% establishing a career

85% being debt free/reducing debt

74% education/pursuing an advanced degree

72% being in a long-term relationship/marriage

9 in 10 are asking themselves “what am I going to do with my life?”

+ Taking a Deeper Look

Gen Yes vs. Gen whY me?

Adultolescence

Carrying 10K in credit card debt and 25K student loan debt

78% of college grads are moving home

Expectation Hangovers

16.1% unemployment rate 18-29

Almost 6 in 10 employed say they already have switched

careers at least once.

Only 1/3 say their current job is their career / 62% plan to quit

their regular job within two years

Almost 10% are on anti-depressants

Influencers and trend-setters

+ Why Gen Y

77 million strong and will reach 88 million by 2020

Current annual spending is 200 billion a year

Over the next 10 years, Gen-Y will be majority of ‘wealth

accumulators’ in developed economies and are becoming

the majority of the workforce

Influencers and trend-setters

Loyal, enthusiastic, creative, innovative, passionate,

idealistic, and really FUN

+

+ Attracting Gen Y

Invest in technology and engage

Have a story to tell

Deliver and be transparent

Include parents

Address how you will help them achieve

their goals

Implement social and environmental

conscious practices

+

Next Steps

+

What ideas do you have to bridge generational gaps in your workplace?

What are the immediate steps you plan to implement?

?????

+ Bridging the Generational Gaps:

Provide a variety of flexible arrangements that cater to each generation

More opportunities for generations to work together

Invest in top notch education and training in all forms

Re-recruit every day

Invite open dialogue

Create space for creative ideas

Set up mentoring and reverse mentoring opportunities

Prepare for the next generations!

+ Stop Generalizing Generations

+

“If you want happiness for a lifetime - help the next generation.”

Chinese Proverb

+ THANK YOU!!!

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