Who Are These People?Who Are These People?Who Are These People?Who Are These People?

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Food for ThoughtFood for ThoughtFood for ThoughtFood for Thought

“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—Lord Baden-Powell

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“People develop values and outlook based on their world and

their experiences from birth to about age 10.”

“People develop values and outlook based on their world and

their experiences from birth to about age 10.”

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—Morris Massey—Morris Massey

Generation: A group of people born within a 20-year period with enough similar experiences that they develop a group persona.

Generation: A group of people born within a 20-year period with enough similar experiences that they develop a group persona.

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TurningsTurningsTurningsTurnings

• High

• Awakening

• Unraveling

• Crisis

• High

• Awakening

• Unraveling

• Crisis

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PersonasPersonasPersonasPersonas

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Outer-drivenMorally complacentInstitutionalizesEducationAchievers

Outer-drivenMorally complacentInstitutionalizesEducationAchievers

ConformistsSensitiveRisk-adverseCivil rights

ConformistsSensitiveRisk-adverseCivil rights

MoralisticMidlife principlesNarcissisticVisionary seniors

MoralisticMidlife principlesNarcissisticVisionary seniors

AlienatedAmoralRisk takersDiversityPragmatic

AlienatedAmoralRisk takersDiversityPragmatic

CivicCivic AdaptiveAdaptive IdealisticIdealistic ReactiveReactive

Silent1925-1942

(62-79)

Silent1925-1942

(62-79)

Boomers1943-1960

(44-61)

Boomers1943-1960

(44-61)

Gen-Xers1961-1981

(23-43)

Gen-Xers1961-1981

(23-43)

G.I.1901-1924

(80-100)

Millennial1982-2003

(1-22)

G.I.1901-1924

(80-100)

Millennial1982-2003

(1-22)

Gen-XersGen-XersGen-XersGen-Xers

• Considered irresponsible

• Latchkey kids

• Grew up too fast

• Information overload

• Considered irresponsible

• Latchkey kids

• Grew up too fast

• Information overload

• Don’t know what is right or how to succeed

• Drug addiction, AIDS, sex, education, violence

• Inherited world and environment problems

• Don’t know what is right or how to succeed

• Drug addiction, AIDS, sex, education, violence

• Inherited world and environment problems

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One Gen-Xer said:One Gen-Xer said:One Gen-Xer said:One Gen-Xer said:

“Who are we to look to? Every generation is supposed to have role models. Where are ours? Madonna? Michael Jackson? People wonder why we are so confused. Wouldn’t you be?”

“Who are we to look to? Every generation is supposed to have role models. Where are ours? Madonna? Michael Jackson? People wonder why we are so confused. Wouldn’t you be?”

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OOOOH, Let’s stop here..... I gotta pick up a card for my half-sister’s biological father’s stepson’s kindergarten graduation.

OOOOH, Let’s stop here..... I gotta pick up a card for my half-sister’s biological father’s stepson’s kindergarten graduation.

““I feel more than a trace of bitterness I feel more than a trace of bitterness listening to Boomers with the same listening to Boomers with the same education as me complaining that education as me complaining that they won’t be able to install their they won’t be able to install their home theater—while I’m refilling home theater—while I’m refilling their iced tea.”their iced tea.”

““I feel more than a trace of bitterness I feel more than a trace of bitterness listening to Boomers with the same listening to Boomers with the same education as me complaining that education as me complaining that they won’t be able to install their they won’t be able to install their home theater—while I’m refilling home theater—while I’m refilling their iced tea.”their iced tea.”

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Wood Badge staff are predominately Wood Badge staff are predominately Boomers. Wood Badge participants Boomers. Wood Badge participants are predominately Gen-Xers. are predominately Gen-Xers.

To ensure a successful course, To ensure a successful course, boomer staff members must change boomer staff members must change their generational tendencies and their generational tendencies and fully understand the Gen-Xer fully understand the Gen-Xer participants’ needs.participants’ needs.

Wood Badge staff are predominately Wood Badge staff are predominately Boomers. Wood Badge participants Boomers. Wood Badge participants are predominately Gen-Xers. are predominately Gen-Xers.

To ensure a successful course, To ensure a successful course, boomer staff members must change boomer staff members must change their generational tendencies and their generational tendencies and fully understand the Gen-Xer fully understand the Gen-Xer participants’ needs.participants’ needs.

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How Do We Reach Them?How Do We Reach Them?How Do We Reach Them?How Do We Reach Them?

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• What’s in it for me, personally?

• How will it help my child get an edge?

• How good is it, really?

• Is it more important than other things I could be doing?

• Why is it important for me to take this training?

• What’s in it for me, personally?

• How will it help my child get an edge?

• How good is it, really?

• Is it more important than other things I could be doing?

• Why is it important for me to take this training?

When recruiting, answer their questions:When recruiting, answer their questions:

How Do We Communicate?How Do We Communicate?How Do We Communicate?How Do We Communicate?

• Early, often, complete, what’s next• Via e-mail• Utilize course Web page/photos• In the Gilwell Gazette• Above all: Eschew obfuscation

• Early, often, complete, what’s next• Via e-mail• Utilize course Web page/photos• In the Gilwell Gazette• Above all: Eschew obfuscation

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Explain EVERYTHING:Explain EVERYTHING:

How Do We Treat Them?How Do We Treat Them?How Do We Treat Them?How Do We Treat Them?

• Give them information up front.• Don’t patronize.• Appreciate them.• Be organized, prepared, and purposeful.• Don’t waste their time.• Staff are facilitators and advisers–not

top brass.

• Give them information up front.• Don’t patronize.• Appreciate them.• Be organized, prepared, and purposeful.• Don’t waste their time.• Staff are facilitators and advisers–not

top brass.

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What Do They Like?What Do They Like?What Do They Like?What Do They Like?

• New ideas• Fun and creativity• Give opinions, not answer questions• To be included• Anything high-tech• Diversity

• New ideas• Fun and creativity• Give opinions, not answer questions• To be included• Anything high-tech• Diversity

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How Do We Train Them?How Do We Train Them?How Do We Train Them?How Do We Train Them?

• Interactive

• Electronic

• Diversity of techniques

• Ask opinions—no lecture or Q&A

• Self-discovery

• Team-oriented

• Interactive

• Electronic

• Diversity of techniques

• Ask opinions—no lecture or Q&A

• Self-discovery

• Team-oriented

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To SummarizeTo SummarizeTo SummarizeTo Summarize

For younger leaders, you may be theBoy Scouts of America.For younger leaders, you may be theBoy Scouts of America.

Your Wood Badge course may bea very important factor in whetherthey make a long-term commitment toScouting.

Your Wood Badge course may bea very important factor in whetherthey make a long-term commitment toScouting.

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ReferencesReferencesReferencesReferences

Neil Howe and William Strauss, Generations: The History of America's Future (Morrow, 1991).

Neil Howe and William Strauss, The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy (1997).

Neil Howe and William Strauss, Millennials Rising: The Next Generation.

Neil Howe and William Strauss, Generations: The History of America's Future (Morrow, 1991).

Neil Howe and William Strauss, The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy (1997).

Neil Howe and William Strauss, Millennials Rising: The Next Generation.

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Additional ReferencesAdditional ReferencesAdditional ReferencesAdditional References

Jeffery B. Cafaude, Cultivating New Leadership, (Association Management, 2000).

Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., The Cycles of American History.

Ted Goertzel, “The World Trade Center Bombing as a Fourth Generational Turning Point,” Rutgers University.

Based on presentations by Jim Denny, QuikTrip Corporation, and Steve Elwart, Ergon Corporation.

Jeffery B. Cafaude, Cultivating New Leadership, (Association Management, 2000).

Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., The Cycles of American History.

Ted Goertzel, “The World Trade Center Bombing as a Fourth Generational Turning Point,” Rutgers University.

Based on presentations by Jim Denny, QuikTrip Corporation, and Steve Elwart, Ergon Corporation.

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