Understanding Generational Differences Presentation

Understanding Generational Understanding Generational DifferencesDifferences

Presented by:

Debbie Jones

What makes a Generation?What makes a Generation?

““The events and conditions each of us The events and conditions each of us experiences during our formative years experiences during our formative years

determines who we are and how we see the determines who we are and how we see the world. world.

As a result of these events and conditions, each As a result of these events and conditions, each generation has adopted its own “generational generation has adopted its own “generational

personality.”personality.”

- Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman- Lynne Lancaster and David Stillman

When Generations CollideWhen Generations Collide

What is a ‘generatio gap?’What is a ‘generatio gap?’

The term “generation gap” was created to The term “generation gap” was created to mean mean the empty space in which people the empty space in which people

born of different times do not understand born of different times do not understand each other because of their differing each other because of their differing

attitudes, values, communication, and attitudes, values, communication, and interests.interests.

Why Should We Care?Why Should We Care?

1.1. Increased interactionIncreased interaction

2.2. The era we grew up in shapes us and gives The era we grew up in shapes us and gives us our perspective. us our perspective.

3.3. Potential for increased conflictPotential for increased conflict

How can understanding How can understanding generational differences help us?generational differences help us?

Help people discover the values of each Help people discover the values of each groupgroup Help different age groups relate to one Help different age groups relate to one another betteranother better Help us have more concern and appreciation Help us have more concern and appreciation for the issues of each era.for the issues of each era.Help us to learn what motivates the members Help us to learn what motivates the members of each generationof each generation

Generation TypesGeneration Types

Traditionals Traditionals Born between 1922 – 1945 Born between 1922 – 1945

Baby BoomersBaby Boomers Born between 1946 – 1964Born between 1946 – 1964

Generation XGeneration X Born between 1965 - 1980 Born between 1965 - 1980

Generation YGeneration Y Born between 1981 – 2000Born between 1981 – 2000

HomelandersHomelanders Born between 2001 – PresentBorn between 2001 – Present

TraditionalsTraditionals(also known as the Silents or Matures)(also known as the Silents or Matures)

Born Between 1922 - 1945Born Between 1922 - 1945

““The difficult we do at once; the impossible takes a The difficult we do at once; the impossible takes a bit longer.”bit longer.”

- Motto of the Seabees- Motto of the Seabees

Events that Define ThemEvents that Define Them

Stock Market Crash Stock Market Crash Great DepressionGreat Depression FDR and the New DealFDR and the New Deal The Dust BowlThe Dust Bowl Pearl Harbor – enter WWIIPearl Harbor – enter WWII D-day in NormandyD-day in Normandy Korean WarKorean War

What They Are Rebelling AgainstWhat They Are Rebelling Against

Economic and national condition of the Economic and national condition of the country –responsible for respondingcountry –responsible for responding

Generation battle cry of:Generation battle cry of: ““Bear any burden, pay any price” …and “do Bear any burden, pay any price” …and “do

it big”it big” Re-build the U.S. back into a great countryRe-build the U.S. back into a great country

Key CharacteristicsKey Characteristics

HardworkingHardworking

LoyalLoyal

SubmissiveSubmissive

Tech-challengedTech-challenged

Traditional moralsTraditional morals

Superb interpersonal skillsSuperb interpersonal skills

What Other Generations Say About ThemWhat Other Generations Say About Them

Boomers say they are:Boomers say they are: Rigid and resistant to changeRigid and resistant to change Technologically challengedTechnologically challenged Narrow in their viewNarrow in their view DictatorialDictatorial


Gen X says they are:Gen X says they are: Set in their waysSet in their ways Need to learn how to use e-mailNeed to learn how to use e-mail The ones with all the money The ones with all the money


Gen Y says they are:Gen Y says they are: TrustworthyTrustworthy Good LeadersGood Leaders BraveBrave

Baby BoomersBaby BoomersBorn Between 1946 and 1964Born Between 1946 and 1964

Those born during or after World War II and raised in Those born during or after World War II and raised in the era of extreme optimism, opportunity, and progressthe era of extreme optimism, opportunity, and progress

Motto: Live to workMotto: Live to work


TelevisionTelevision Civil Rights MovementCivil Rights Movement ProsperityProsperity Family PlanningFamily Planning JFK, MLK and RFK assassinatedJFK, MLK and RFK assassinated WoodstockWoodstock Vietnam WarVietnam War Kent StateKent State Rock and RollRock and Roll

What are they rebelling against?What are they rebelling against?

Established social norms of the Established social norms of the TraditionalsTraditionals

Effective due to large numberEffective due to large number


““Me” generationMe” generation Competitive and hardworkingCompetitive and hardworking Get the job done at any costGet the job done at any cost Live to workLive to work Driven and service-orientedDriven and service-oriented Good team playersGood team players Like to avoid conflictLike to avoid conflict


Traditionals say…Traditionals say…

“ “They are self-absorbed”They are self-absorbed”

“ “They talk about things they ought to keep They talk about things they ought to keep private…like intimate details of their private…like intimate details of their personal lives”personal lives”

Generations At WorkGenerations At Work, Zemke, Raines, Filipczak, Zemke, Raines, Filipczak


Gen X says…Gen X says…

“ “They are self-righteous.”They are self-righteous.”

“ “They are workaholics.”They are workaholics.”

“ “They do a great job of talking the talk, but They do a great job of talking the talk, but they don’t walk the walk.”they don’t walk the walk.”



Gen Y says…Gen Y says…

“ “They’re cool. They are up to date on the They’re cool. They are up to date on the music we like.” music we like.”

“ “They work too much.”They work too much.”


Gen XGen XBorn Between 1965 - 1980Born Between 1965 - 1980

A generation born in the shadows of the A generation born in the shadows of the BoomersBoomers

Gen XGen X

““It’s no wonder Xers are angst-ridden and It’s no wonder Xers are angst-ridden and rudderless. They feel America’s greatness rudderless. They feel America’s greatness has passed. They got to the cocktail party has passed. They got to the cocktail party twenty minutes too late, and all that’s left twenty minutes too late, and all that’s left are those little wieners and a half-empty are those little wieners and a half-empty

bottle of Zima.”bottle of Zima.”

Dennis MillerDennis Miller RANTSRANTS


Nixon ResignsNixon Resigns Energy CrisisEnergy Crisis Divorce Rate + 2 Working ParentsDivorce Rate + 2 Working Parents Technology RevolutionTechnology Revolution Stock Market CrashStock Market Crash Corporate DownsizingCorporate Downsizing Fall of Berlin WallFall of Berlin Wall Challenger DisasterChallenger Disaster Operation Desert StormOperation Desert Storm Rodney King and L.A. RiotsRodney King and L.A. Riots


Work/life imbalance of the BoomersWork/life imbalance of the Boomers

Motto: Work to LiveMotto: Work to Live


Latchkey kidsLatchkey kids Digest information rapidlyDigest information rapidly Witnessed corporate downsizingWitnessed corporate downsizing May not sacrifice personal life for a May not sacrifice personal life for a

companycompany Open to receiving feedbackOpen to receiving feedback Good at networkingGood at networking RoamersRoamers Able to do multiple things simultaneously Able to do multiple things simultaneously

What Other Generations Say About Them

Traditionals say:

They don’t respect experience They don’t follow procedures They don’t know what hard work is


Boomers say:

They are lazy They are rude and lack social skills They are always doing things “their own

way” They spend too much time on the Internet

and e-mail They won’t wait their turn


Gen Y says:

Cheer up already!

Gen Y Gen Y (also known as Millenials, Nexters & Internet Gen.)(also known as Millenials, Nexters & Internet Gen.)

Born Between 1981 - 2000Born Between 1981 - 2000

A flip-flop wearing, I-pod toting, multi-tasking A flip-flop wearing, I-pod toting, multi-tasking generation that is optimistic and ready to generation that is optimistic and ready to change the world and your organization! change the world and your organization!


Oklahoma City bombingOklahoma City bombing School violenceSchool violence TechnologyTechnology Busy, over planned livesBusy, over planned lives Clinton/LewinskyClinton/Lewinsky MulticulturalismMulticulturalism TV talk showsTV talk shows September 11thSeptember 11th


Complacency of the Gen XersComplacency of the Gen Xers

They are ready to change the world… for They are ready to change the world… for the betterthe better

… …and they have the numbers to do itand they have the numbers to do it


Civic DutyCivic Duty Achievement – in all aspects of lifeAchievement – in all aspects of life DiversityDiversity ConfidenceConfidence OptimismOptimism Goal OrientedGoal Oriented

The Age of the “Helicopter Parent”The Age of the “Helicopter Parent”

Hovers near at all times ready to swoop in Hovers near at all times ready to swoop in and save the child from whatever peril may and save the child from whatever peril may face him/herface him/her

Wants to contact professors, bosses and HR Wants to contact professors, bosses and HR to correct grades, salaries and working to correct grades, salaries and working conditionsconditions

Gen Y – Gen Y – was bombarded with a unique set of compelling messages growing up…

Be smart—you are special Leave no one behind Connect 24/7 Achieve now Serve your community

Their Preferred Work CultureTheir Preferred Work Culture

““Gen Yers resemble the Traditionals in Gen Yers resemble the Traditionals in many ways—they believe in collective many ways—they believe in collective action, optimism about the future, trust in action, optimism about the future, trust in centralized authority, a willingness to get centralized authority, a willingness to get things done, and a heroic spirit in the face things done, and a heroic spirit in the face of overwhelming odds.”of overwhelming odds.”


Their Preferred Work CultureTheir Preferred Work Culture

CollaborativeCollaborative Diverse and InclusiveDiverse and Inclusive Goal-orientedGoal-oriented SociableSociable Civic focused – a company that cares about Civic focused – a company that cares about

social and/or environmental issuessocial and/or environmental issues ChallengingChallenging Lots of opportunity to learn and growLots of opportunity to learn and grow

What do They Want in a What do They Want in a work/community environment?work/community environment?

You be the leader You be the leader Challenge me Challenge me Let me work with my friendsLet me work with my friends Let’s have fun!Let’s have fun! Respect me and my ideasRespect me and my ideas Be flexibleBe flexible


Traditionals say… say…

“ “They have good manners.”They have good manners.”

“ “They’re smart little critters.”They’re smart little critters.”

“ “They watch too much TV…with They watch too much TV…with

crude language and violence.”crude language and violence.”


MillennialsMillennials What Other Generations Say About ThemWhat Other Generations Say About Them

Boomers Boomers say…say…

“ “They’re cute.They’re cute.

“ “They can set the time on the DVD/VCR.” “They They can set the time on the DVD/VCR.” “They need to learn to entertain themselves; they need need to learn to entertain themselves; they need too much attention.”too much attention.”



Gen X says…Gen X says…

““Here we go again…another self-absorbed generation Here we go again…another self-absorbed generation of spoiled brats.”of spoiled brats.”

“ “What do you mean, “What’s an album?”What do you mean, “What’s an album?”


Remember…..Remember…..

““Regardless of the Regardless of the generation a person was generation a person was born into, he is still an born into, he is still an individual.”individual.”

What does this mean in practice?What does this mean in practice?

As community cultures evolve with each As community cultures evolve with each generation…generation…

You have the unique challenge to ensure You have the unique challenge to ensure that work teams become and remain that work teams become and remain culturally and generationally diverse culturally and generationally diverse because of the wealth of information and because of the wealth of information and experience that individual team members experience that individual team members can offer.can offer.

Managing the Generational MixManaging the Generational Mix

Find out about the Find out about the MEMORABLE EVENTSMEMORABLE EVENTS that occurred as they were growing up.that occurred as they were growing up.

AVOID AVOID assuming that because people are assuming that because people are a certain age they will act a certain way. a certain age they will act a certain way.

Find out how Find out how THEY THEY like to be treated. like to be treated.

ACKNOWLEDGEACKNOWLEDGE the age difference. the age difference.

Point to RememberPoint to Remember

While it is helpful to know some of the generalizations about different generations as a starting point, the real learning and the real bridging of age difference comes through doing two things: suspending your assumptions and judgments, and engaging in dialogue across generations.

ExerciseExercise

TraditionalsTraditionals Baby BoomersBaby Boomers Gen XGen X Gen YGen Y

Understanding Generational Differences Presentation

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