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Ken Eastman Department of Management Oklahoma State University From Traditionals to Millenials: Leading Generations at Work 1

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Caveats Generalizations, not stereotypes Remember, individuals will differ within a generation Some differences due to life-stage differences Keep your mind and lines of communication open! 2 2

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Four Generations Lancaster & Stillman, 2002 3

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Cuspers CusperBirth Years Traditionalist/Boomer1940-1945 Boomer/Xer1960-1965 Xer/Millenial1975-1980 Lancaster & Stillman, 2002 4

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Five Generations GenerationBirth Years Traditionalists (Matures, Silents, Schwarzkopfs) 1922 1945 Baby Boomers Woodstockers Generation Jones 1946-1964 1946-1953 16% 1954-1964 26% Generation Xers (Xers, Post Boomers) 1965-1977 Generation Yers1978-1989 Millenials1990-Present Gravett & Throckmorton, 2007 and Martin & Tulgan, 2006 5

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Five Major Life Shaping Forces Parents/Family Schools/Education Religion/Morality Friends/Peers Media/Culture 6 6

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Traditionalists: Defining Events The Great Depression The New Deal World War II GI-Bill Golden Age of Radio 7 7

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Traditionalists: Core Values Loyalty Commitment Strong Work Ethic Patriotism Law & Order Respect for Authority Patience Delayed Reward 8 8

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Boomers: Defining Events Woodstockers Civil Rights Assassinations Summer of Love Vietnam War Space Race/Moon Landing Jones Watergate Gas Lines Iranian Hostages Womens Liberation 9

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Boomers: Core Values Optimism Idealism Personal Gratification Promotion & Recognition Competitiveness Involvement 10

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Generation Xers: Defining Events Milk-carton Kids Challenger Disaster Single Parent Homes Latchkey Kids MTV AIDS Personal Computers 11

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Generation Xers: Core Values Skepticism Resourcefulness Self-Reliance Pragmatism Free-Agency Balance in Life Informality 12

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Generation Yers: Defining Events Oklahoma City Bombings Schoolyard Shootings & Violence Clinton/Lewinsky Scandal Technology Globalization 9/11 13

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Generation Yers: Core Values Realistic Hopeful Socially Conscious Confidence Morality Expressive Diversity 14

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Millenials 9/11 Helicopter parents German reunification Soviet Union collapses Gulf war Space station launched 15

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Millenials: Core Values Still being discovered Uber-Gen Yers 16

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Clashpoints Collisions at work between people of two different generations Occur around career goals, rewards, balancing work and home, retirement and having fun at work People from different generations have different values, views of authority, and communication styles Lancaster & Stillman, 2002 17

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Authority GenerationView TraditionalsChain of Command BoomersChange of Command Gen XersSelf-Command Gen YersCollaborate, not Command 18

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Work-Life Balance GenerationView TraditionalsSupport me in shifting the balance. BoomersHelp me balance everyone and find meaning. Gen XersGive me balance now! Gen YersGive me flexibility. 19

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What Younger Workers Want in a Boss Approachable Active listener Supports life-balance Provides regular feedback Doesnt micro-manage Encourages growth 20

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Younger Workers Need to Manage Up Show some loyalty Have some patience Be a team player Appear positive Make your boss look good Lancaster & Stillman, 2002 21

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Summary Generations should be a part of any diversity management program Be aware of generalizations, but be wary of stereotypes Be open to differences We were all young once! 22