Generations at WorkGenerations at Workin your workplace!in your workplace!

Who are those that were born Who are those that were born between 1922 and 2000AD?between 1922 and 2000AD?

Cynthia A. JenningsCynthia A. Jennings

WBL CoordinatorWBL Coordinator

The GenerationsThe Generations

The Veterans – Born 1922-1943The Veterans – Born 1922-1943 Baby Boomers – Born 1943-1960Baby Boomers – Born 1943-1960 Gen Xers – Born 1960-1980Gen Xers – Born 1960-1980 Nexters – Born 1980- 2000Nexters – Born 1980- 2000 and now the Millennials!!!!and now the Millennials!!!!

The VeteransThe Veterans

Core Values:Core Values: Dedication/SacrificeDedication/Sacrifice Hard WorkHard Work ConformityConformity Law and OrderLaw and Order Respect for Respect for

AuthorityAuthority Adherence to rulesAdherence to rules PatiencePatience

The Baby BoomersThe Baby Boomers

Core Values:Core Values: OptimismOptimism Team OrientationTeam Orientation Health and WellnessHealth and Wellness Personal Personal

GratificationGratification WorkWork InvolvementInvolvement

The Gen XersThe Gen Xers

Core Values:Core Values: DiversityDiversity Thinking GloballyThinking Globally BalanceBalance TechnoliteracyTechnoliteracy FunFun Self-relianceSelf-reliance PragmatismPragmatism

The NextersThe Nexters

Core Values:Core Values: OptimismOptimism Civic DutyCivic Duty ConfidenceConfidence AchievementAchievement SociabilitySociability MoralityMorality DiversityDiversity

Generational Mind SetGenerational Mind SetThe Veterans:The Veterans: Like consistency and Like consistency and

uniformityuniformity Like things on a grand Like things on a grand

scalescale Are conformersAre conformers Believe in logic, not magicBelieve in logic, not magic Are disciplinedAre disciplined Are past oriented and Are past oriented and

history absorbedhistory absorbed Have always believed in Have always believed in

law and orderlaw and order Spending style is Spending style is

conservativeconservative

The Baby Boomers:The Baby Boomers: They believe in growth and They believe in growth and

expansionexpansion They think of themselves as They think of themselves as

stars in the showstars in the show They tend to be optimisticThey tend to be optimistic In school and at home , the In school and at home , the

boomers learned about boomers learned about teamworkteamwork

The Boomers have always The Boomers have always been cool!been cool!

They have pursued their own They have pursued their own personal gratification, personal gratification, uncompromisingly at a high uncompromisingly at a high price to themselves and price to themselves and others others

Generational Mind SetGenerational Mind Set

The Gen Xers:The Gen Xers: Are self-reliantAre self-reliant Seeking a sense of familySeeking a sense of family They want balanceThey want balance They have a nontraditional They have a nontraditional

orientation about time and orientation about time and spacespace

They like informalityThey like informality Their approach to authority Their approach to authority

is casualis casual They are skepticalThey are skeptical They are attracted to the They are attracted to the

edgeedge They are technologically They are technologically

savvysavvy

The Nexters:The Nexters: On the goOn the go Passion and personality to Passion and personality to

take on a causetake on a cause They think Mom and/or They think Mom and/or

Dad Dad is cool!is cool!

More dependant on Mom More dependant on Mom and Dadand Dad

Technology is “natural”Technology is “natural” Eager to subscribe to a Eager to subscribe to a

stricter moral codestricter moral code Manners have been rebornManners have been reborn Realistic about the presentRealistic about the present

Generations On the Job!Generations On the Job!On the Job-AssetsOn the Job-Assets

The Veterans:The Veterans: StableStable Detail orientedDetail oriented ThoroughThorough LoyalLoyal HardworkingHardworking

The Baby Boomers:The Baby Boomers: Service OrientedService Oriented DrivenDriven Willing to go the “extra mile”Willing to go the “extra mile” Good at relationshipsGood at relationships Want to pleaseWant to please

The Gen Xers:The Gen Xers: AdaptableAdaptable TechnoliterateTechnoliterate IndependentIndependent CreativeCreative Unintimidated by authorityUnintimidated by authority

The Nexters:The Nexters: Collective actionCollective action TenacityTenacity Heroic SpiritHeroic Spirit Technological savvyTechnological savvy Multitasking abilitiesMultitasking abilities

Generations at workGenerations at workOn the Job - LiabilitiesOn the Job - Liabilities

The Veterans:The Veterans: Inept with ambiguity and changeInept with ambiguity and change Reluctant to buck the systemReluctant to buck the system Uncomfortable with conflictUncomfortable with conflict Reliant when they disagreeReliant when they disagree

The Baby Boomers:The Baby Boomers: Not normally budget mindedNot normally budget minded Uncomfortable with conflictUncomfortable with conflict Reluctant to go against peersReluctant to go against peers May put process ahead of resultMay put process ahead of result Overly sensitive to feedbackOverly sensitive to feedback Self-centeredSelf-centered Judgmental of those who see Judgmental of those who see

things differentlythings differently

The Gen xers:The Gen xers: Poor people skillsPoor people skills InexperiencedInexperienced ImpatientImpatient CynicalCynical

The Nexters:The Nexters: Need for supervision and Need for supervision and

structurestructure Inexperience, particularly with Inexperience, particularly with

handling difficult people issueshandling difficult people issues

Leadership Style Leadership Style Veterans: Veterans: DirectDirect Command and Control LeadershipCommand and Control Leadership

Baby Boomers: Baby Boomers:

Collegial ConsensualCollegial Consensual

Gen Xers:Gen Xers:Thrive on changeThrive on changeChallenge others’ thinkingChallenge others’ thinking

Nexters:Nexters: ResilientResilient

Who were the Hero’s?Who were the Hero’s?

The VeteransThe VeteransSuperman, Winston Churchill, Babe Ruth, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Superman, Winston Churchill, Babe Ruth, Franklin Delano Roosevelt,

PattonPatton

The Baby BoomersThe Baby BoomersGandhi, Martin Luther King, John and Jacqueline Kennedy, John GlennGandhi, Martin Luther King, John and Jacqueline Kennedy, John Glenn

The Gen XersThe Gen XersNoneNone

The NextersThe NextersMichael Jordon, Princess Diana, Mother Theresa, Bill Gates, Tiger Michael Jordon, Princess Diana, Mother Theresa, Bill Gates, Tiger

WoodsWoods

Understanding the “Team” Understanding the “Team” idea!idea!

The Veteran:The Veteran:Teams with strong leaders who told them exactly what to do, how Teams with strong leaders who told them exactly what to do, how and when.and when.

The Baby Boomers:The Baby Boomers:Have difficulty speaking up within teams, avoiding any Have difficulty speaking up within teams, avoiding any

difficulties at any cost, creating a community team where difficulties at any cost, creating a community team where everyone gets alongeveryone gets along

The Gen Xers:The Gen Xers:Teams are less frequently brought together. Communication to Teams are less frequently brought together. Communication to

the the team is done on email, over chat rooms, and by joining listserv’steam is done on email, over chat rooms, and by joining listserv’s

The Nexters:The Nexters:Teams that are similar to the Boomers possess the ”can do” of Teams that are similar to the Boomers possess the ”can do” of

the the Veterans and the technological savvy of the Gen Xers.Veterans and the technological savvy of the Gen Xers.

The “ACORN” Idea The “ACORN” Idea

Five major operating ideas which can Five major operating ideas which can get Generations to work together!get Generations to work together!

““A”A”ccommodate employee differencesccommodate employee differences

““C”C”reate workplace choicesreate workplace choices

““O”O”perate from a sophisticated management perate from a sophisticated management stylestyle

““R”R”espect competence and initiativeespect competence and initiative

““N”N”ourish retentionourish retention

““A”A”ccommodate Employee ccommodate Employee DifferencesDifferences

Learn all they can about Learn all they can about employeesemployees

Work to meet specific Work to meet specific needs of each employeeneeds of each employee

Serve them according to Serve them according to their unique preferencestheir unique preferences

Effort to accommodate:Effort to accommodate: Personal schedules Personal schedules Work-Life balance issuesWork-Life balance issues Nontraditional lifestylesNontraditional lifestyles

““C”reate workplace choicesC”reate workplace choices

The workplace is shaped by the work The workplace is shaped by the work

being donebeing done An atmosphere that is relaxed and An atmosphere that is relaxed and

informalinformal A casual dress codeA casual dress code Height and width of the chain of command Height and width of the chain of command

tends to be foreshortenedtends to be foreshortened

““O”perate from a sophisticated O”perate from a sophisticated management stylemanagement style

Managers are more polishedManagers are more polished Managers are more directManagers are more direct Managers display their flexibility by:Managers display their flexibility by:

the supervisory style not being fixedthe supervisory style not being fixed the leadership style being situationally variedthe leadership style being situationally varied depending more on positional powerdepending more on positional power knowing when to make policy exceptionsknowing when to make policy exceptions being thoughtful when matching individuals to being thoughtful when matching individuals to

a a team or a team or individual to an assignmentteam or a team or individual to an assignment

““R”espect competence and initiativeR”espect competence and initiative

Treat your employees with respectTreat your employees with respect

Involve people that are interested in doing Involve people that are interested in doing

their besttheir best

Hire the best employees and give them Hire the best employees and give them the best job opportunitiesthe best job opportunities

““N”ourish retentionN”ourish retention Offer lots of trainingOffer lots of training Encourage and support lateral movementEncourage and support lateral movement Provide variety and new challenges for Provide variety and new challenges for

employeesemployees Encourage employees to obtain new skillsEncourage employees to obtain new skills

““Sell the Benefits”Sell the Benefits”

In order to retain the very In order to retain the very best employees!!!!best employees!!!!

The Next Generation of The Next Generation of WorkersWorkers

are already being born are already being born and working…together! and working…together!

Power point designed by Cynthia A. JenningsPower point designed by Cynthia A. Jennings

Information for this power point was supported by the book Information for this power point was supported by the book titled:titled:

Generations at WorkGenerations at Work by Ron Zemke, Claire Raines, by Ron Zemke, Claire Raines, and Bob Filipczakand Bob Filipczak