GENERATION GAP

&

FUTURE LEADERS

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

First time ever that we have 4 different generations in our workforce working together side-by-side Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Gen-X & Gen Y

Each of these generations were impacted by various events that shape who they are and how they work

We need to understand what motivates the various generations and how to work together

WHAT DOES THIS WORKSHOP HOPES TO

ACHIEVE?

Better understanding and appreciation of each

generation and how they act and think

Channel for each generation to give their views,

expectations & hopes.

Ideas on how to motivate and retain great employees

from all generations

Insight into how to constructively work with individuals

from among the various generations

What Other gens say about Gen-y?

“They have no work ethic.”

“He is not committed to his job”“He has a poor work ethic”

“He does not follow direction”

“I cant believe the way he/she dresses”

What Gen-Ys say to others?

“If you’re looking for loyalty buy a dog.”

“u mean u don’t know how to use iPod?”

“If I hear, ‘We tried that in ‘87 one more time I’ll hurl.’”

“Lighten up!”

“What do you mean I can’t work from home”

Evidence there is conflict

WHAT SHAPED YOU?

National Events

Music

Technology

Values

Relationships

Parental Expectations

Other

WARNING:

The following information

is blatant stereotyping.

Characteristics Traditionalists

Born 1925-1945

Baby Boomers

Born 1946-1964

Generation X

Born 1965-1977

Generation Y

Born 1978 or after

Age Span 65 to 81 years old 46 to 64 years old 34 to 45 years old 33 or younger

Population 75 million 78 million 45 million 80 million

Traits Conservative

Discipline

Respect for authority

Loyal

Patriotic

Idealistic

Break the rules

Time stressed

Politically correct

Pragmatic

Self-sufficient

Skeptical

Flexible

Media/Info/Tech savvy

Entrepreneurial

Confident

Well-educated

Self-sufficient

Tolerant

Team builders

Socially/politically

conscious

Defining Events Great depression

World War II

Korean War

Vietnam War

Woodstock

Watergate

Collapse of communism

Missing children on milk

cartons

Computers in school

Clinton/Lewinsky

School shootings

Terrorism on U.S. soil

Corporate scandals

Work Is Inevitable Exciting adventure Difficult challenge To make a difference

Work Ethic Loyal/dedicated Driven Balanced Eager but anxious

Employment Goals Retirement for some Second career Work/life balance Unrealistic

Education A dream Birthright Way to get to an end A given

Technology LP record 8-track CD iPod/MP3

Communication Face to face Telephone Cellular phone IM/Text messaging

TV Peyton Place Dallas Melrose Place The OC

Time at Work is

defined

Punch clock Visibility Why does it matter if I get it

done?

Is it 5 PM? I have a life.

VISUAL OF THE GENERATION GAP

Guiding Principles

Generational Core Values

TRADITIONALISTS CORE VALUES

Dedication/sacrifice

Loyalty

Conformity

Law & Order

Respect authority

Practical

Delayed reward

Work before play

Adhere to the rules

Honor

Traditionalists on the JobAssets

Stable

Detail oriented

Thorough

Loyal

Hard working

Polite

Liabilities

Can’t handle ambiguity &

change

Reluctant to buck the

system

Uncomfortable with

conflict

Shut down when they

disagree

BOOMERS CORE VALUES

People people

Team oriented

Personal

achievement

Personal growth

Youth

Involvement

Fairness

BOOMERS ON THE JOB

ASSETS

Service oriented

Ambitious

Want to please

Will go the extra mile

Good team players

LIABILITIES

Not “budget minded”

Judgmental of those who

see things differently

Overly sensitive to

feedback

Put process ahead of

result

XERS CORE VALUES

Global thinking

Freedom

Balance

Diversity

Play before work

Informality

Self-reliance

Simplicity

GEN X on the JobASSETS

Adaptable

Technically

competent

Independent

Unintimidated by

authority

Creative

LIABILITIES

Impatient

Poor people skills

Question

everything

Cynical

NEXTERS CORE VALUES

Optimism

Civic Duty

Confidence

Achievement

Sociability

Morality

Street smarts

Diversity

NEXTERS on the Job

ASSETS

Optimism

Adaptability

Heroic spirit

Multitasking

Technological

savvy

LIABILITIES

Need for

supervision and

structure

Inexperience,

particularly with

handling difficult

people issues

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

What motivates you at work? At home?

What influences your decisions?

What does work-life balance mean you?

How can you incorporate these insights into how

your organization operates?

INDIVIDUAL EXERCISE

What is the ONE thing I learned about “Traditionalist Generation” that will help me most in my job is….?

What is the ONE thing I learned about “Boomers” that will help me most in my job is….?

What is the ONE thing I learned about “Xers” that will help me most in my job is….

What is the ONE thing I learn about how I view the different generations and interact with them?

INDIVIDUAL EXERCISE

CHALLENGES FOR FUTURE LEADERS

Future Leaders among Gen-X & Gen-Y

faces new types of challenges such as:-

1. Competing at global scale

2. Adapting to new technologies

3. Workplace diversity

4. Generation ME (Millenium Babies)

Millenium Babies

Millenium babies are those born after the

new millenia i.e year 2000 >

Mostly babies of Gen-X

Never saw LPs, cassettes, black&white TV,

video recorder or CRT

Born in the times of interconnectivity –

internet, bluetooth, sattelite TV, WiFi, X-Box

& PS3

Have access to information anywhere &

anytime

How will they be?

Super-intelligent by traditionalists, boomers

and sometimes Gen-X standards

Master atleast 3 languages

Most of the time in cyberspace

Challenges authority & always ask “what’s in

it for me”

Have high passion for green & the earth

Why will they be that way?

They grow up in the age of technology &

information

Parents are gen-X who teach them

education is most important

Everything is connected

Instilled with high esteem from parents who

tell them “you are the best”

Watch & read about the global warming,

extinction of species thus feel responsible to

reverse the damage done by their ancestors

Managing millenium

babies?

Company must be IT savvy – IT department

will be emerging dept

Learning & development will be the next

important thing after salary

Wants to work anywhere, anytime – office

space will be a thing of the past

Managers have to be knowledgeable or

atleast resourceful to earn their respect

Company must be a responsible one with a

very strong program for the environment for

them to join and stay

LESSONS LEARNED

What is the one critical concept that I will

apply from this session?

What positive outcome can I expect from

applying this concept?

What will I do differently?

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS?

THANK YOU