Leading Across Generations in the Workplace -Jeanna ...

Dr. Jeanna Mastrodicasa

Associate Vice President of Agricultural and Natural Resources

University of Florida

[email protected]

@drjtothemastro

Leading Across Generations in

the Workplace

Generations

• Perceived membership in a common generation

• A set of age locations, common beliefs and

behaviors

• A common location in history

• Broad generalization about an entire generation

Generations • Lost Generation (1880-2000)

• GI Generation (born 1901-24)

• Silent Generation (born 1925-42)

• The Boom Generation (born 1943-60)

• Generation X (born 1961-81)

• Millennials/Gen Y (born 1982-1999)

• Generation Z (born 2000-present)

Millennials: The Entitled

• Children of Baby Boomers• Parents wait until later in life, more affluent• “Baby on Board” signs• Marketing to children increases: Barney, Hanson,

Spice • Family decision making, e.g. vacations• Politicians started talking about effects on children

for first time• “Helicopter parents”• Strong sense of entitlement and high expectations

of personal reward

Different relationships with parents

• Perpetual access to parents (cell phones) keeps

them in a permanent state of dependency

• Today’s children don’t know how to solve

problems or to plan ahead

• Median frequency of communication: 1.5 times

per day

• Parents do problem solving for college students

and new professionals in work world

Theory of

“Emerging

Adulthood” (Arnett)

• A developmental phase

between ages 18 and 35 when

people assume adult

responsibilities more gradually

than previous generations.

• At the same time, these

individuals claim rights of

adulthood.

“Electronic Tether” (Fullman)

• Describes connection students and parents maintain through cell phones, IM, and other cheap and convenient communication.

• Extends “Emerging Adulthood” to describe the role technology plays in extending relationships with home instead of creating independence.

• Delays development of Chickering’s “Autonomy” vector.

Generation Z

• “want everything, everywhere, and immediately”

• Idols include internet stars

• Easier to talk online than in person

• Engaged in self-education

• FOMO: “fear of missing out”

• Interested in running their own company

• Short attention span

• success comes from their "network" rather than from

qualifications and they prefer a flat organization to a hierarchy

at work

Benhamou, 2015

Freestyle generation

--From Kruger (2016)

Generation Z Plans

--From Kruger (2016)

Use of Technology and

Communication

Internet usage

Cell phones and texting

• Cell phone calls are viewed as an interruption, impolite if

unscheduled.

• Many rely on voice mail and return call by text or email

• Caller ID has role in decision of answering the telephone

Smartphone ownership

The 4G Workplace: Ricoh

Europe Study (2015)

The 4G Workplace: Ricoh

Europe Study (2015)

Main Attractors to a company

for Generation Z are…• Work-life balance (48%) (#1 for Millennials)

• Working with great people (47%)

• Flexible working hours (42%)

• Great perks (42%)

• Job security (42%) (#1 for Baby Boomers)

HIGH FRUSTRATION WITH EMPLOYERS

Global workplace of extreme mobility

Generation Z in the Workplace

• By 2019, Generation Z will make up 20% of

the workforce

• Very focused on *finding* the job…

• Find ways to tap into social media:

• Recruit for job applicants

• Work on team projects

• Set guidelines and policies

• Portray your company’s culture

PWC study recommendations

• Retention of employees comes from making an emotional connection with them:

1. balance and workload

2. Engaging work, development and opportunities

3. People and team (community)

4. Competitive pay and job opportunities

PWC study recommendations

• Create a flexible work culture

• Fully leverage technology

• Increase transparency around compensation,

rewards, and career decisions

• Build a sense of community

• Evaluate the impact that millennials may have on

the contingent work force strategy of your

organization

• Invest time, resources, and energy to listen and

stay connected with your people

Resources

• Pew Research Center research:

http://www.pewglobal.org/2016/02/22/smartphone-ownership-

and-internet-usage-continues-to-climb-in-emerging-economies/

• Ricoh Europe: The 4G workplace. http://thoughtleadership.ricoh-

europe.com/eu/4G-workplace/

• PWC NextGen Study: http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/services/people-

organisation/publications/nextgen-study.html

• Telefonica Global Millennial Survey:

http://survey.telefonica.com/meet-the-millennials/europe/

Thank you!

For a list of references and

resources, please contact

Jeanna Mastrodicasa at

[email protected]

Follow me on Twitter:

@DrJtotheMastro