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Rachelle Vettern&

Dean AakreNDSU Center for 4-H Youth Development

Generations in the Workplace

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Program Objectives

Build awareness of your characteristics based on your generation

Build awareness of characteristics of others based on their generation

Encourage understanding of generational similarities and differences to enhance the environments you work and live in where age-related diversities exist

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Ideology

Your value system was shaped in your first 10 years by family, friends, community, significant events, general “era” when you were born

During 20th century, children experienced similar things because of increasing globalization

Similarly aged people experienced similar events as children & were raised by parents with similar parenting views

You will likely have similar value systems to this day

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Era of Our Coming of Age

Ages 15-25

Significant events Personally Culturally Socially Politically Family

NDSU Extension Service, North Dakota State University

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Age-related Cohorts

Builders: 1900-1922

Silents: 1923-1944

Boomers: 1945-1963

Xers: 1964-1980

Millennials (Gen Y): 1981-2000

Post-millennials (Gen Z): 2001-2020


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Cusper, the Friendly Ghost

Cusper – a person positioned between two generations.

Types of cuspersTraditionalist/Baby Boomer (born 1940-1945)Baby Boomer/Generation Xer (born 1960-1965)Generation Xer/Millennial (born 1975-1980)

“Because cuspers stand in the gap between the two sides, they become naturals at mediating, translating and mentoring.” Lancaster and Stillman, 2002

My Generation’s Profile?

Divide into groups according to your generation:

Boomers: 1945-1963

Xers: 1964-1980

Millennials (Gen Y): 1981-2000

On the flipchart pages around the room, write your Influences (icons, celebrities, big events), Slogans or mantras, Distinguishing characteristics, Myths.

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Silent Generation Born 1923-1944

Defining Events Hitler and Mussolini consolidate power (1930s) Rise of communism (1920s and 1930s) Great Depression (1930s) Pearl Harbor – World War II (1940s) Atomic bomb (1945)

Heroes Churchill Mandela Gandhi Jack Nicklaus Elvis


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Characteristics of Silents

Successful Inclusive Pragmatic Mentors Quiet, but industrious Cautious Sandwiched – underestimated/overlooked “Hip,” friendly style allows them

to connect with young people


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Core Values of Silents

Self-reliance Thriftiness Hard work Loyalty Experience Relationships


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Baby Boom Generation Born 1945-1963

Defining Events Threat of nuclear war Cold War – Iron Curtain Space/arms race Cuban missile crisis Vietnam Civil rights movement Assassinations (JFK,MLK,RFK) “Woodstock generation” Women’s liberation


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Baby BoomersBorn 1945-1963

Trends and events Prosperity Television Suburbia Interstate highway system Moon landing

Heroes Gandhi, JFK, MLK, John Glenn, Neil Armstrong Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris


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“The rap” on Baby Boomers

They tend to be…WorkaholicsPolitically Sensitive

(to a fault)IdealisticNo balance between

life & work Geez get a life!!


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Characteristics of Boomers

Educated Independent Desire quality Cause-oriented Fitness conscious Question authority Groomed to explore

inner world


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Core Values of Boomers

Optimism Personal gratification Focus on the self (WIIFM) Health and wellness/youth Personal growth Involvement Competitive Work


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Generation X Born 1964-1980

Defining Events Iranian hostage crisis (1979) President Reagan and Pope John Paul II shot (1981) Challenger disaster (1986) Chernobyl nuclear accident in USSR (1986) Iran-Contra scandal (1987) Black Monday on Oct. 19

(Dow drops 508 points) (1987) Berlin Wall comes down/Cold War ends (1989) Operation Desert Storm (1990)


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Xer Trends

Latchkey kids Single-parent homes Females increasingly seen in

nontraditional careers HIV/AIDS MTV and 24-hour TV X-games Home computers Fax machines Walkmans and DVDs Microwave ovens No heroes


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Characteristics of Gen X

Neglected by parents Self-reliant Survivors Serious about life Stressed out Loyal to relationships Skeptical Highly spiritual


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Core Values of Xers

Diversity Thinking globally Balance Techno-literacy Fun Informality Self-reliance Pragmatism


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Millennials Born 1981-2000

Defining Events Oklahoma City bombing (1995) Princess Diana dies in Paris (1997) Monica Lewinsky affair (1998) Columbine massacre/

schoolroom violence (1999) 9/11 Iraq War/war on terror


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Millennial Trends

Technology/Internet Instant messaging Facebook/Twitter YouTube TV reality shows Multiculturalism Body art

Heroes Their parents (helicopter) Older Millennials: Michael Jordan,

Princess Diana, Oprah, Mother Teresa Others???


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Characteristics of Millennials

Optimistic/idealistic Individualistic yet group-oriented Short (very short) attention span Busy spending their $ Overscheduled Entrepreneurial Ambitious yet inexperienced Acknowledge and admire

some authorities Think Silents are cool

Parents, tooNDSU Extension Service, North Dakota State University

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Core Values of Millennials

Civic duty Education Confidence Street smarts Achievement Morality Diversity


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Attitude Toward Authority

Builders/Silents: Endure, Honor & Respect

Boomers: Replace them, Challenge leaders

Xers: Ignore LeadersMillennials: Test but SearchGeneration Z: Collaborate

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Schedules

Builders: MellowSilents: PlannedBoomers: FranticXers: StressfulMillennials: OverscheduledGeneration Z: On the Move-

(parents trying for more balance)

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Work is...

Builders/Silents: ...an inevitable obligation

Boomers: …an exciting adventure

Xers: …what you do to support your lifestyle

Millennials: …something you have to do

Collaboration and Conflict

What examples do you have of collaboration or conflict when working

with different generations in the workplace?

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Working with Silents

Courtesy counts Be a good steward Involve them for

their knowledge Show appreciation


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Working with Boomers

Ask for input Think encore, not

retirement Don’t dismiss, don’t

assume Work for the good of

the whole


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Working with Xers

Provide full disclosure

Use logic and reason, rather than authority

Provide autonomy Get to the point


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Working with Millennials

Get on the technology wave

Accept their life of “weisure”

Provide meaningful work

Transparency


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Do You Know Your Generations?

Take the quiz.While you are taking it, think about

where you, your parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, and siblings fit.


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How did you do?

Generations Quiz


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Commitment

Write down 2 ways you can use this information related to Generations.

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Thank You!


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Contact Information:

Rachelle Vettern & Dean AakreCenter for 4-H Youth Development219 FLC, Dept. 7280P.O. Box 6050Fargo, ND 58108-6050 Phone: R:(701) 231-7541 D:(701) [email protected] [email protected]: (701) 231-8568

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REFERENCES

Corporation for National and Community Service (2006). Choosing appropriate outreach techniques for different generations. Retrieved November 2, 2006, from, http://nationalserviceresources.org/epicenter/practices/index.php?ep_action=view&ep_id=1057

Raines, C. (2003). Connecting generations: The sourcebook for a new workplace. Menlo Park, CA: Crisp Publications.

Raines, C., & Hunt, J. (2000). The Xers and the boomers: From adversaries to allies. Berkeley, CA: Crisp Publications

Rock, M.E. (1999). The Corporate learning journey. www. canadaone.com.

Thorstenson, R. (2012). Generation in the Workplace presentationZemke, R., Raines, C., Filipczak, B. (2000). Generations at work.

New York: AMACOM.

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