Generations at work
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Transcript of Generations at work
WORKING ACROSS GENERATIONSOR, “Why Aren’t You Dead
Yet?
Finish these phrases:
• Young people these days just don’t have a strong work ________.
• Older managers are so ________.
• This younger generation seems to have such a short ________.
•
Gen Y
Conclusions• Research does not always support age
stereotypes
• Diversity is a challenge
• Experience and socio-economic status or generational differences?
So, Why Do We Stereotype? . . .
• Describe one major event that occurred while you were growing up
• Describe one memorable symbol from your formative years – it could be a TV program, movie, song, toy, slogan, etc.
• What do you find frustrating about the other generations in the workplace?
• What do you appreciate about the other generations in the workplace?
Main Areas of Generational Conflict
• Motivation
• Work Life Balance
• Communication
• Values
The Baby Boomers
• Born between 1946- 1964: 67 to 49 years• 9.6 million – 30% of population in Canada
• Postwar affluence • Parental indulgence• More aware of political and social issues • Societally- increasing divorce rate,
working mothers, and the sexual revolution
• Values included self-fulfillment, individualism, and material wealth
The Gen X-ers
• Born- 1965 – 1980– 33 to 48 years old– 6.7 million (21% of population)
• Grew up in a difficult time financially, socially
• “Latch-key kids"• Children were feeling abandoned and
longed for meaningful relationships • Skeptical of big organizations• AIDS, threatened shortages of natural
resources, and a lack of good jobs influenced their worldview as they began entering the workforce
Millennials
Gen Y - Millennials
• Born 1981 – 2000 age 32 or younger• 8.3 million (26% of the Canadian population)
The Millenials• Grew up with the Internet• Growing up with more positive
relationships with their parents • Just starting to enter the management
ranks
Technology is anything inventedafter you were born*
• Video games• PCs• Commands• E-mail• Mailing lists
• Cassettes
• Video games• PCs• Commands• E-mail• Mailing lists
• Cassettes
Gen - XersGen - Xers
• The Web• Mobile devices• KWM interface• IM, blogs• Virtual communities• CDs, MP3s
• The Web• Mobile devices• KWM interface• IM, blogs• Virtual communities• CDs, MP3s
MillennialsMillennialsBoomersBoomers
• TV• Mainframes• PLATO• Telephones• Party lines
• LPs
• TV• Mainframes• PLATO• Telephones• Party lines
• LPs
* Alan Kay
• A digital immigrant is an individual who was born before the existence of digital technology and adopted it to some extent later in life.
• A digital native is a person who was born during or after the general introduction of digital technologies and through interacting with digital technology from an early age, has a greater understanding of its concepts.
Clash Points
Institutions…
Institutions
Baby Boomers
Need to change
Generation X Are suspect
Generation Y Should be judged on their own merit
Career Goals…
Goals
Baby Boomers
Build a Stellar Career
Generation X Build a Portable Career
Generation Y Build Parallel Careers
Feedback. . .
Feedback
Baby Boomers
Once a year with documentation
Generation X Interrupts and asks how they’re doing
Generation Y Wants feedback at touch of a button
Work Ethic. . .
Work Ethic
Baby Boomers
Work hard, Play hard, Worry about Money
Generation X Work hard if it doesn’t interfere with play, Save money
Generation Y Good grades, Make others pay, Save money
Rewards. . .
Rewards
Baby Boomers
Money, title, recognition
Generation X Freedom!
Generation Y Work that has meaning
Career Path…
Career Path
Baby Boomers
Job changing puts you behind
Generation X Job changing is necessary
Generation Y Doesn’t need to be a straight line
Leadership. . .
Leadership
Baby Boomers
By Consensus
Generation X By Competence
Generation Y By Pulling Together
Values . . .
Values
Baby Boomers
Try to be sensitive, but prefer to be with others like selfStay together at all costs
Generation X You can’t count on families. Whoever is closest to you that is your familyTreat in politically correct ways – enjoy building relationships
Generation Y Hardly notice the differenceKeep families together
Management Styles. . .
Management Style
Baby Boomers
Participative
Generation X Do what we’ve all agreed uponWhat ever is the latest
Generation Y Hyper collaborativePersonal - do what each is best at and wants to doJust-in-time management
Responsibilities of Managers
• Do you see any generational conflict at Spartan?
• In what ways can we better handle generational conflict in our workplace?
• What can be done to meet specific needs of the 3 different generations?