Multigenerational Communication

1. Multigenerational Communication WVASFAA Fall Conference 2010 Presenter: Damia Dobbs West Virginia University Thursday, October 28, 2010

2. Multigenerational Communication A generation is defined by the common attitudes, experiences and preferences that develop in the context of social and economic events of a defined period of time.

3. Multigenerational Communication Which of the following means the most to you? • Elvis joins the Army • Jimi Hendrix dies • MTV debuts • Kurt Cobain dies

4. Multigenerational Communication The answer depends on your age- or more specifically, on the generation that you belong to. • Elvis was drafted in 1959 • Jimi Hendrix died in 1970 • MTV debuted in 1981 • Kurt Cobain died in 1994

5. Multigenerational Communication • Why is it important to understand the differences in generations? • Different viewpoints • Different ways of putting it into action • Experiences, ideas and values shared by people of different generations makes for a melting pot of work approaches and priorities.

6. Four Groups • Traditionalists (1925- 1946) • Baby Boomers (1947- 1964) • Generation Xers (1965- 1976) • Millennials or Gen Y (1977- 2000)

7. Traditionalists • Grew up with adversity • Learned values from extended family • Strong beliefs about hard work, ethics, right and wrong • Massive layoffs in the 70s were very detrimental • Women in the workplace

8. Baby Boomers • Rules are not for us • Buy now, pay later • Have it all and be noticed for it • What we deserve • It’s about experience • Balance in a stress-filled schedule

9. Baby Boomers cont. • “Suburbia” was created • Questioned policies, rules and practices • Protests of the 60’s • Creation of the middle class • Quest to remain young

10. Generation X • Resourcefulness • Skepticism • Focus on quality • Impatience with “Boomer” mentality • Balance of life • Peer-focused

11. Generation X cont. • Dual career couples • Product of technology • Employment is a contract, not a life style • Smallest generation in recent history

12. Millennials • Speed/ Impatience • Expectancy of choice • Non-stop fun • Convenience • Skepticism of marketing in general • Unprecedented growth

13. Millennials cont. • All conventions and individuals can be challenged • One in three defined by the US government as a minority • Navigate huge technology, but problems with problem solving and taking risks

14. Traditionalist/Baby Boomer Combo • Your job is what you are • I remember back when…… • Good things come to those who wait • If your hands aren’t busy, your not working • We have a system for everything • Technology will never overcome hard work

15. Millenial / Gen X Combo • A job is a contract, not a calling • Focus on the outcome rather than the task • Balance is more important than money • Management should be partners with employees • Life is too short to “pay your dues”

16. Events and Experiences Traditionalists- Loyal • Great Depression • New Deal • World War II • Korean War

17. Events and Experiences Boomers- Optimistic • Civil Rights • Sexual Revolution • Cold War • Space Travel • Assassinations of JFK, Robert Kennedy and MLK • Breakdown of Family

18. Events and Experience Generation Xers- Skeptical • Fall of Berlin Wall • Watergate • Women’s Liberation • Desert Storm • Energy Crisis

19. Events and Experiences Millennials - Realistic • School Shootings • Oklahoma City • Technology • Child Focused World • Clinton/ Lewinsky

20. Values Traditionals: • Believe in conformity, authority and rules • Believe in logic • Very defined sense of right and wrong • Loyalty and respect for authority

21. Values Baby Boomers: • Individual choice • Community involvement • Prosperity • Ownership • Self-actualizing • Health and wellness

22. Values Generation X: • Contribution • Feedback and recognition • Autonomy • Time with manager

23. Values Millennials: • Self-expression is more important than self-control • Marketing and branding self is important • Violence is an acceptable means of communication • Fear living poorly- this is related to lifestyle enjoyment, not wealth

24. Music • Millennials have always had CD players • Gen Xers had Walkmans • Baby Boomers remember 8 Tracks • Traditionalists listened to 45’s

25. Pop Culture • George Foreman has always been a bbq grill salesman for Millennials • Cher was an actress for Gen Xers • Cher was a TV star for Baby Boomers • Cher was a singer for Traditionalists

26. Space Travel • For Millennials, the US and the Soviets have always been partners in space • Gen Xers saw the beginning of shuttles • Baby Boomers saw man on the moon • Traditionalist remember John Glenn

27. Television • FOX has always been a television network choice for Millennials • Gen Xers enjoyed the benefits of cable • Baby Boomers enjoyed the Big Three networks ABC, NBC and CBS • Traditionalists enjoyed actually having TV

28. Style • Millenial women have always had tattoos • Gen Xers remembers when MTV actually played music videos. • Baby Boomers will remember Woodstock and some of them won’t • Traditionals survived the Great Depression

29. “The Family Car” • Millennials grew up in minivans • Gen Xers and Baby Boomers actually drove to school • Traditionals remember their station wagon fondly

30. Multigenerational Work Place • It is important to consider generational differences when dealing with the workplace • Understanding where the individual is coming from will aid in targeting your mentoring style to bring out their strengths and make the most progress

31. Work Styles Traditional: • Consistency and uniformity • Seek out technological advances • Past-oriented • Command and control leadership reminiscent of military operations • Prefer hierarchical organizational structures and will continue to view horizontal structure in a hierarchical way

32. Work Styles Baby Boomer: • Confidence in tasks • Emphasize team building • Seek collaborative, group decision making • Avoid conflict

33. Work Styles Generation X: • High-quality end results • Productivity • Balance between work and life- work to live not live to work • Flexible work hours/ job sharing appealing • Free agents • See self as a marketing commodity • Comfortable with authority but not impressed with titles

34. Work Styles Millennials: • Want to know how what they do fits into the big picture and need to understand how everything fits together- want to effect change and make an impact • View their work as an expression of themselves; not as a definition of themselves • Exceptional multi-taskers- need more than activity happening at a time • Seek active versus passive involvement • Less likely to seek managerial or team leadership positions that would compromise life outside of work

35. Work Styles Millennials: • Seek flexibility in work hours and dress code • Seek a relaxed work environment- bright colors, open seating, personal touches • Expect corporate social responsibility and will not work for or purchase products from organizations that are not socially responsible • Seek work in teams • Seek continuing learning and will take advantage of training made available to them • Want everything instantly—everything now

36. Attributes Traditional: • Disciplined • View an understanding of history as a way to plan for the future • Dislike conflict • Detail oriented

37. Attributes Baby Boomer: • Adaptive • Goal-oriented • Focus on individual choices and freedom • Adaptive to a diverse workplace • Positive attitude

38. Attributes Generation X: • Adaptability • Independence

39. Attributes Millenial: • Adapt rapidly • Crave change and challenge • Create constantly • Exceptionally resilient • Committed and loyal when dedicated to an idea, cause or product • Accept others of diverse backgrounds easily and openly • Global perspective

40. Career Goals Traditionalists: “Build a Legacy” Baby Boomers: “ Build a Stellar Career” Generation Xers: “Build a Portable Career” Millennials: “Build Parallel Careers”

41. Rewards Traditionalists: “Satisfaction of a job well done” Baby Boomers: “Money, title, recognition, the corner office” Generation Xers: “Freedom is the ultimate reward” Millennials: “Work that has meaning for me”

42. Job Changing Traditional: “Job changing carries a stigma” Baby Boomer: “Job changing puts you behind” Generation X: “Job changing is necessary” Millennial: “Job changing is part of my daily routine”

43. Training Traditional: “I learned the hard way; you can too!” Baby Boomer: “Train them too much and they will leave” Generation X: “The more they learn, the more they stay” Millennials: “Continuous learning is a way of life”

44. Multigenerational Communication Keeping these generational differences in mind can make dealing with co-workers, as well as students less of a challenge. Remember to discard biases and preconceived notions and enjoy the generational differences

45. Credits Works Cited 2010 NASFAA National Conference. PPT. Managing a Multigenerational Workforce. PPT. "Meet The Multigenerational Workforce." ValueOptions®, a Leading National Managed Care Company, Specializes in Management for All Behavioral Health Issues. Web. 08 Sept. 2010. <http://www.valueoptions.com/spotlight_YIW/workforce.htm>. Thielfoldt, Diane, and Devon Scheef. "Generation X and The Millennials: What You Need to Know About Mentoring the New Generations." American Bar Association - Defending Liberty, Pursuing Justice. Aug. 2004. Web. 01 Sept. 2010. <http://www.abanet.org/lpm/lpt/articles/mgt08044.html>.