effective workplace communications: generations at work august 12, 2008

Effective Workplace Communications:

Generations at Work

August 12, 2008

2

Life Long Learning

3

Information Overload

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5


6

Richard Riley

The Top 10 In-Demand Jobs in 2010 did not exist in 2004.

7

Information Transfer

Every Communication Involves a Sender, a Message, and a

Receiver.

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THE SENDER

All communication begins in the sender’s mind as a mental image, either an idea, a wish, a feeling, or some combination of all three.

The mental image is transformed or decoded by the sender into symbols that carry information.

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THE MESSAGE

The message is the symbols used by the sender to carry information.

The message includes symbols that are verbal, non-verbal, and written.

Most Common Symbols are:– Words– Images– Posture or Body Language– Objects– Behaviors

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THE RECEIVER

The receiver takes the symbols that make up the message and

transforms or encodes them into his/her own mental

images.

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Generational Shifts

Meet the Complications

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U.S. Birth Rates

Fewer people to enter the workforce…

24 24

18

1617

1514 14

13 1310

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003

Year of Birth Rate

Rat

e P

er 1

000

Po

pu

lati

on

12© 2008 Employment Enterprises, Inc.

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U.S. Job Growth

…but more positions to fill13© 2008 Employment Enterprises, Inc.

128,000

129,000

130,000

131,000

132,000

133,000

134,000

135,000

136,000Ja

n-0

4

Feb

-04

Mar

-04

Ap

r-04

May

-04

Jun

-04

Jul-

04

Au

g-0

4

Sep

-04

Oct

-04

No

v-04

Dec

-04

Jan

-05

Feb

-05

Mar

-05

Ap

r-05

May

-05

Jun

-05

Jul-

05

Au

g-0

5

Sep

-05

Oct

-05

No

v-05

Dec

-05

Jan

-06

Feb

-06

In T

ho

usa

nd

s

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U.S. Workforce Growth by Age

-10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

15-24 25-34 35-44 45-55 55-64 65+

Age of Workers

% Growth in U.S. Workforce by Age: 2000-2020


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The Perfect Storm

Fewer Workers + More Jobs + Generational Diversity

=

CONFUSION

FRUSTRATION15© 2008 Employment Enterprises, Inc.

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4 Generations – One Workplace

Traditionalists 1922 to 1945– The Silent Generation

Boomers 1946 to 1964– Sandwich Generation, the “Me” Generation

Gen X 1965 to 1980– Latch Key Kids

Gen Y 1981 to 2000– The Millennials, the Echo Boom

Based on the research of Tamara Erickson, Concours Group


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The Traditionalists

Shaping Events: The Great Depression

World War I & II

Golden age of television

Growth of the suburbs

Characteristics: Traditional family

structures

Money savers

Loyalty to institutions

Rule makers



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The Traditionalists

Characteristics

Respectful of authority

Loyal to institutions

Rule makers

Motivated by financial security

Workplace Implications

• Preference for hierarchical institutions

• Respect for position leaders• Value affiliation• Career synonymous with

company• Value stability• Policy writers…and believers• Fiscally conservative• Motivated by financial

rewards• Used to status and financially

based compensation packages



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The Boomers

Shaping Events

Assassinations of idealistic leaders

Vietnam War

Civil Rights Movement

Watergate

Characteristics

Anti-authoritarian

Idealistic

Motivated by changing the world

Competitive



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The Boomers

Characteristics

Idealistic and cause oriented

Anti-authoritarian

Competitive


Career viewed in terms of one’s life mission

Searching for the company vision

Reflecting on life’s accomplishments

Naturally skeptical of position leaders

Prefer participative management

Authors of attempts to restructure companies

Productive; value recognition Expect merit-based systems

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© 2008 Employment Enterprises, Inc.


21

Generation X

Shaping Events Increase in parents’

divorce rates

Entry of women into workforce

Increase in parents’ unemployment

End of Cold War

Growth of Internet

Characteristics Self-reliant

Anti-institution

Rule-morphing

Tribal

Information-rich


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Generation X

Characteristics Self-reliant and anti-

institution

Rule-morphing

Tribal

Information-rich

Workplace Implications Career belongs to individual,

not the company Expect to be treated

individually Need to be re-recruited every

day Expects work to fit with other

life commitments Value knowledge and skill

over tenure and position Reluctant to relocate Accustomed to teamwork Value personal connections

with mentor Wants frequent feedback

(instant messages)

22

© 2008 Employment Enterprises, Inc..


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Generation Y

Shaping Events Terrorism

Global warming and natural disasters

Working mothers

Unprecedented bull market

Pro-child culture

Characteristics

Socially conscious Plugged in Goal oriented Pro-education Tolerant Full of self-esteem Family-centric

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24

Generation Y

Characteristics

Socially conscious

Pro-education

Plugged in

Goal-oriented

Workplace Implications Meaningful roles in

meaningful work Desire to be paid

volunteers join a company because they want to

Seek companies that will invest in their future

Impatient with anything that doesn’t lead to learning or advancement

Do expect personalization Every intention of building

the perfect career Trained to be Doers and

Achievers24



25

Generation Y

Characteristics

Tolerant

Full of self-esteem

Family-centric


Value building community Raised in diversity Willing to move around

until they find a place that suits them

Fearless and blunt Recognize the importance

of their lifestyles Parental input must be

factored in Work for companies that

emphasize balance

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26

Secret Codes

PAW or PIR or P911

Parents are watching

Parents in room

Parent emergency

SOS

Sibling over shoulder

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Adding Meaning 2008

;)

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Communication

A symbolic process of creating and sharing meaning in which a sender imparts a message to a receiver.

– To share information

– To express feelings

– To attempt to coordinate behavior

– To persuade someone to do something

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Effective Communication

Transfers meaning from one party to another

Imparts knowledge

Solicits feedback

Ultimately, improves productivity and employee satisfaction

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Two Types of Messages

The Literal Message– The message conveyed by the symbols themselves.

The Metamessage– The additional or transcendent message– Carries implicit messages about the reason for the

communication, how the message is to be interpreted, and the nature of the relationship of the sender and the receiver.

– Much of the metamessage is communicated through non-verbal cues, intonation, and/or body language.

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Six Men and an Elephant

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Up to 70% of the meaning of the message is lost during the transmission of the message from sender to receiver.

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Employees typically spend 75% of their work time in interpersonal situations.

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Common Ground

“You need to pay your dues.”

“I want to be in charge now.”

“You need to build your credibility.

I need to provide you with a path.”

Based on the writings of Misti Burmeister

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Common Ground

“You need to follow the rules.”

“I can do it better and faster.”

“We need a common strategy to reach our goals. Let’s define acceptable risk”


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Common Ground

“Just do what I told you.”

“What will the company do for ME?”

“Let’s create a learning relationship – I teach you and you teach me.”


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Embracing Your Ignorance

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We learn when we listen.

We learn when we ask questions.

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Effective communication is an essential component of organizational success.

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Life Long Learning

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Thank You

Thank You from Employment Enterprises, Inc.

Joe Sherrier, SPHRDirector of [email protected], x239

www.eeihr.com

© 2008 Employment Enterprises, Inc. 41

effective workplace communications: generations at work august 12, 2008

Documents

employment enterprises

common symbols

workforce growth

messagethe message

research of tamara erickson

mental images

jobs generational diversity

birth ratesfewer people