x, y and boomers, oh my! working with different generations · baby boomer gen x gen y take pride...

X, Y and Boomers, Oh My! Working with Different Generations

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Demographics

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Baby Boomer Gen X Gen Y (Millenials)

Work, work, work! It's what we're about! • Born 1946 – 1964 • 74.9M

Work. Work more with flexibility. Work even more? Let’s talk! • Born 1965 - 1980 • 65.8M

Work flexibility anywhere, but I need complete access to information and the answer 'Why?' Work anytime … on my terms. Work even more? I have social obligations. • Born 1981 – 1997* • 75.3M

*No chronological age set yet

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Who’s Who?

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Who’s Who?

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Who’s Who?

Workforce in 2016

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Boomers    17%  

Gen  X    32%  

Millenials    50%  

Vets  1%  

Is it True What We Say About Them?

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Baby Boomers

are SLOW

Xers are LAZY

Millenials are

ENTITLED

Shaped by Their Times

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Baby Boomer Gen X Gen Y

Rosa Parks Cuban missile crisis Civil rights act Landing on the moon MLK march and assassination Vietnam Kennedy assassination

Challenger disaster Fall of Berlin wall Corporate layoffs Rodney King beating Desert Storm Energy crisis Rise of personal computer

TV talk shows OK City bombing Columbine Google founded as search engine Girls’ movement

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Gen Y (Millenials)

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How do we work effectively with them?

Gen Y (Millenials)

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How do we work effectively with them?

Provide structure

Provide leadership and guidance

Encourage self-assuredness

Facilitate, don’t direct

Make it fun

Promote work-life integration

Connect them to the mission Provide context

Set clear expectations

Let them try

Gen Y (Millenials)

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How do we work effectively with them?

Provide structure

Provide leadership and guidance

Encourage self-assuredness

Facilitate, don’t direct

Make it fun

Promote work-life integration

Connect them to the mission Provide context

Set clear expectations

Let them try

Boomers

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How do we work effectively with them?

Boomers

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How do we work effectively with them?

Do it their way before you fix it

Ask for unsaid specifics

“Draft” doesn’t actually mean “draft”

Respect goes a long way

Talk, don’t email or text

Ask them to mentor

Be patient with change

Boomers

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How do we work effectively with them?

Do it their way before you fix it

Ask for unsaid specifics

“Draft” doesn’t actually mean “draft”

Respect goes a long way

Talk, don’t email or text

Ask them to mentor

Be patient with change

Communicating Across Generations

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Text me Call

me

Emailme

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Baby Boomer Gen X Gen Y

Take pride in their work, but derive rewards from recognition received for their contributions

Fair compensation and the opportunity to earn extra for doing extra, opportunities to build skills, enjoyable atmosphere

Fun and stimulating work environment, control over environment

“Value my expertise”

“Coach me, but don’t get in my way while I’m trying to get the job done”

“Let me try, let me figure it out”

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Baby Boomer Gen X Gen Y

•  Value their experience •  Train them to use

technology •  Show them how they’ve

“earned” it •  Allow them to make

decisions

•  Feed them •  Celebrate, have parties

(but not on their time, on work time)

•  Provide meaningful work

•  Allow freedom, connect at their level

•  Room for sharing •  Macro manage •  Provide meaningful

work •  Communicate often and

on their terms •  Include them in

decision-making

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human connection