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Generational Differences in the Workplace: Yes, We Really Can All Work Together

Generational Differences in the Workplace: Yes, We Really Can All Work Together. Alan Cabelly Portland State University. Today’s Goals. Understand who the different generations are Focus on Gen X Focus on Millennials Feel what their differences mean

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Generational Differences in the Workplace: Yes, We Really Can All Work Together

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  1. Generational Differences in the Workplace: Yes, We Really Can All Work Together Alan Cabelly Portland State University

  2. Today’s Goals • Understand who the different generations are • Focus on Gen X • Focus on Millennials • Feel what their differences mean • Provide tools to increase our effectiveness • Enjoy the time

  3. Who Are They • GI JOEs • Traditionalists • Pre 1946 Clothing Hair

  4. Who Are They • BABY BOOMERS • Workaholics • 1946-1964 Clothing Hair

  5. Who Are They • GENERATION X • Rebellious Youth • 1964–1982 Clothing Hair

  6. Who Are They • MILLENNIALS • Controlled and Indulged • 1982-2000 Clothing Hair

  7. Who Are They • GI JOEs • Traditionalists • Pre 1946 • MILLENNIALS • Controlled and Indulged • 1982-2000 • BABY BOOMERS • Workaholics • 1946-1964 • GENERATION X • Rebellious Youth • 1964–1982

  8. Remember Their Parents • Boomers’ Parents • Roaring ’20s, Great Depression, WW II • Gen Xers’ Parents • The Boring ’50s (Father Knows Best), the Tumultuous ’60s • Millennials’ Parents • Learned in the Quieter ’70s and ’80s

  9. Life Changing Events CONSERVATIVE and LOYAL • GI Joes • Television and Radio, War and Cold War, Great Depression • Boomers • Civil Rights, Cuba, JFK, Viet Nam, Woodstock • Gen X • Aids, Challenger, Berlin Wall, PCs, Tech Bust • Millennials • 9/11, School Violence, Y2K, Reality TV RADICAL and INVOLVED SELF RELIANT and SKEPTICAL OPTIMISTIC but SCARED

  10. Gen X Millennials • 1964 1982 1982 2000

  11. Gen X Millennials • 1980 1984 1999 • JAGGED, FUZZY LINE

  12. TRADITIONAL GENERATIONS Generations Midlife (with Crisis) (44-65) Checkout (66-87) Young Adulthood (22-43) Youth (Birth to 21)

  13. TODAY’S GENERATIONS Generations Revitalization (Metamorphasis?) (41-52) Elder Career (66-75 or more) The Rest of Life (76-100) Elder Career (66-75 or more) Prime Career Conclusion (53-65) Young Adulthood (18-30) First Career Transition (31-40) Young Adulthood (18-30) Youth (Birth to 18)

  14. Your Challenge: the Splitting of the Workplace • Five Sub Generations in Today’s Workplace (18-75) • Two Sexes • Ethnic and Cultural Diversity • Language Diversity

  15. Stereotypes • Understand them • Understand the reasons behind them • Break them

  16. Common Views (stereotypes) of Xers and Millennials We believe they • are DISLOYAL • are ARROGANT (maybe) • have SHORT ATTENTION SPANS • won’t PAY THEIR DUES • need IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION (yes, as feedback)

  17. The Truth • Learned mostly from Boomers • Latchkey Kids With Blackberries • Scared Kids who will Pay Their Dues • Skeptical Kids who will Work Hard • Expect Recognition • Will Leave If Not Gratified • On-Line • Today’s Uncertain World Makes the ‘60s (my '60s) Appear Tame

  18. WHO ARE THEY GENERATION X MILLENNIALS Independent Team Oriented Pragmatic/ Optimistic/ Practical Idealistic Subtle but Important Self-reliant Self-inventive Reject Rules Rewrite Rules Use High Tech Assume High Tech Latchkey Kids Overnurtured Work Ethic Live First, Work Second

  19. WHO ARE THEY GENERATION X MILLENNIALS Independent Team Oriented Pragmatic/ Optimistic/ Practical Idealistic Subtle but Important Self-reliant Self-inventive Reject Rules Rewrite Rules Use High Tech Assume High Tech Latchkey Kids Overnurtured GI Joes, Boomers Work First, Live Second

  20. 18-32 years old Young Adulthood Kings and Queens in the Making Amazing Potential, but for What? Often Not “On Purpose” Not Even They Understand Themselves Frustrated and Frustrating 28-42 years old First Career Transition Dreams Destroyed by the Tech Bust Wondering About Their Purpose Discovered That Smart Is Not Enough Young Family Serious; Striving for Career Stability What Happens at Different Ages?

  21. How Does this Translate to the Organization?

  22. what to do withGeneration X • Get off My Back! • Respect and Value My Contributions • See Me for Who I Am • Allow Me to Learn; Boomers Taught Me • Generation X Is a Completely New Generation, Never Before Seen. The World Has Changed.

  23. what to do with Millennials • Challenge Me • Give Me Personal Attention • Allow Me to Work in Groups • Improve the Technology • The Millennials Form a Completely New Generation, Never Before Seen. The World Has Changed.

  24. Common Themes • BELONGING: Need to Make a Meaningful Contribution • LEARNING: Access to Info • INTREPRENEURSHIP: Freedom to Define Problems, Develop Solutions, and Produce Results • SECURITY: FEEDBACK FEEDBACK FEEDBACK! (not static performance appraisal) • WORLD CHANGE: Adjust Within Greater Economic Chaos

  25. Boomers The Ties That Bind Parent/Child Gen X Refused the Contract Millennials Ignore the Contract No Longer “Cradle to Grave” 2008 Contract: Egalitarian, Two Way, Quality Driven, Person Driven, Flexible Creative Tasks and Schedules Problem Solving Diversity Contribution to Society Employment Contract

  26. in 50 years: from The Life of Riley to Archie Bunker to The Office and Dirty Jobs Management Changes with the World No “Cookie Cutters” It’s Your Responsibility Understand and Value the Individual Discuss/Value Workplace Differences LISTEN Final Comments

  27. RESOURCES • MILLENNIALS RISING: THE NEXT GREAT GENERATION. Howe, Neil and William Strauss. Vintage Books, 2000 • MANAGER OF CHOICE, Nancy Ahlrichs, SHRM, 2002 • THE MILLENNIAL PRESENTATIONS, Central Piedmont Community College, 2004, http://inside.cpcc.cc.nc.us/planning/studies_reports/millennial_presentations.htm • MANAGING GENERATION X, Bruce Tulgan, Merritt, 1995 • THE MANAGER’S POCKET GUIDE TO GENERATION X, Tulgan, HRD Press, 1997 • MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES FOR THE 21st CENTURY, Peter Drucker, Harper Business, 1999 • “STOP THE FIGHT,” Kruger & Mieszkowski, Fast Company, Sept. 1998 • “THE COMING OF THE X MANAGERS,” Nancy Woodward, HRMagazine, March 1999

  28. ALAN CABELLY, Ph. D., SPHRPortland State UniversityHuman Resource LeadershipEXECUTIVE AND CAREER COACHMANAGEMENT/LEADERSHIP COUNSELOR Nationally Recognized Speaker • Workplace Balance and Your “Juggling Act” • Improving Working Relationships • Generational Differences in the Workplace • Diversity Training • Negotiation Strategies and Conflict Resolution • Authentic Leadership in the 21st Century 503/725-3789 alanc@sba.pdx.edu

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