Post on 13-Aug-2020
MASTERING THE
INTERGENERATIONAL PUZZLE Kari T. Ellingson, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Student Development, University of Utah
2013 CSG-WEST ANNUAL MEETING Las Vegas, Nevada
July 30, 2013
GUESS WHEN?
• “Pupils entering school cannot
write well. Their thoughts are
immature, they are miserably
expressed, and they do not
know how to spell.
• 1694, Harvard
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE…
• “Our civilization is doomed if
the unheard-of actions of our
younger generations are
allowed to continue.” • Inscription on a 4,000-year-old tablet found in the Biblical city of Ur
Why Talk about Generational Differences?
People are our most important resource
We all are different based on:
Perceptions
Worldviews
Experiences
Understanding helps us individualize
approaches to our interactions.
Our Workforce Today
Traditional (or Silent or Radio
Babies)
Born 1925 - 1945
Ages 68 - 88
Baby Boomers Born 1946 - 1963
Ages 50 - 67
Generation X Born 1964 - 1979
Ages 33 - 49
Millennials (or EchoBoomers) Born 1980 - 2000
Ages 13 - 33
Traditional Generation
VALUES
Believe in rules and authority
Very defined sense of right and wrong
Loyalty and respect for authority
ATTRIBUTES
Disciplined
Dislikes conflict
Detail-oriented
Views understanding history as way to plan for
future
TRADITIONAL GENERATION
WORK STYLE
Hardworking
Dutiful and loyal
to
party/company/
product
Command and
control
leadership
Willing to pay
dues
“Effort and dedication will
be rewarded by stability.”
Changing Timelines
Baby Boomer
Values
Personal gratification
Community involvement
Prosperity
Ownership
Position and prestige
Attributes
Optimistic
Somewhat self-absorbed
Goal-oriented
View the world as theirs
Attention-seeking
Conflict avoidant
Baby Boomers
WORK STYLE
Driven and
achievement oriented
Seeks growth and
expansion
Personal identify tied to
work
Team-oriented; seeks
collaboration
“Workaholics”-may
have problem with
balance
“Climb the ladder by
working harder.”
GENERATION X Values
Independence and autonomy
Prefer informality
Work/life balance
Honesty
Family/friend relationships important
๏ Attributes
• Adaptability
• Skeptical - want to know “why”
• Survivors
• Technology savvy
• Reliable
GENERATION X
WORK STYLE
Works well independently
Little patience with office
politics
Comfortable with
authority but not
impressed with titles
Flexible work hours
See selves as free agents
Balance!
“Climb the
ladder by
working
smarter.”
Millennials: Born 1980 – 2000 or Ages 13 to 33
SPECIAL
SHELTERED
Called Helicopter Parents
Millennials turn to parents for advice.
Helicopter vs. Stealth Bomber Parent
Parental involvement doesn’t stop at
graduation; parents see child’s life as
a “joint venture”.
Parenting styles mirror Boomers
tendency toward excess.
MILLENNIAL PARENTS
65% said they still ask their parents for academic or career advice
CONFIDENCE
TEAM ORIENTATION
CONVENTIONAL
PRESSURED
ACHIEVERS
Millennials
Values
Civic duty
Achievement, fulfillment
Sociability
Morality
Diversity
Safety
How Graduating College Seniors
Ranked Job Attributes by Importance
in 1982 in 2008
Job Security 5 1
Benefits 7 2
Friendly Co-workers 4 3
Job Location 8 4
Opportunity for personal development 1 5
High starting salary 7 6
Recognition 2 7
Opportunity for creativity 3 8
Generational Differences
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib-Qiyklq-Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd7S3GQPxCU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M3Q54rPjQw
Respect for their experience
To strengthen their community
To maximize economic value
To receive communications in person
Recognize their need for rules, hierarchy,
formality (watch language, manners)
WHAT DO TRADITIONALS WANT?
WHAT DO BOOMERS WANT?
Recognition of individual contributions to
success (status matters)
Self-actualization
Ability to act on their ideals
Being as part of a team
Acknowledge value publicly
WHAT DO GEN XERS WANT?
To be left alone
To be given choices
Time with their friends and family
Don’t waste their time
Someone who can earn their trust
Need to know the “why” of a project or
decision
Allow them to be creative in new
approaches
What do Millennials want?
To do socially meaningful work
Structure, structure, structure
Frequent feedback--they both want and want to give
information constantly
Need to understand the big picture
Being part of a team
Life integration (work, family, friends, play)
TEAM WORK
• Traditionals and Boomers stand up - groups of six
• Xers stand up - groups of six
• Millennials stand up - groups of six
• TASK in the next 15 minutes:
• Decide on six things you like about your
generation that others should know
• Decide on six things that you appreciate about
other generations that you might not have
realized before