1. Generations What are the different generations? What motivates them?
How can we all work together?
Excerpts taken from, “When Generations Collide”
Lancaster and Stillman; “Managing by Defining Moments” Meredith and Schewe, Talaber “Uphill Battle for 20-Somethings” Elliott & Trammell AJC. .

2. The Changing Workplace
Today we do more with less people
Constant product and technology changes
A person’s attitudes and values are sometimes more important than their race & sex
Generational differences is a form of diversity we can talk openly about, and hopefully not worry about political correctness.

3. Family
It seems that the working world has become the equivalent of one huge extended family. Spend more time: work/home?
As any extended family knows, generation gaps can be sources of bickering, tension, dysfunction & A Whoopin’s.
But when Family members learn to get along and work together, these gaps can be sources of creative problem solving and strength.

4. Generations at work
Generation Gaps have always existed, and in the workplace are wider than ever today
Each generation brings it’s own set of values, approaches, beliefs, ethics, life experiences and attitudes to the workplace.
No generation is right or wrong. Understanding each other can be the competitive advantage.
Life expectancy in 1900 was 47, today it is 80.

5. Many workers, one workplace
Research has shown the single most important factor in
individual performance is an employees’ relationship with
their immediate supervisor.
People do not leave Companies, they leave People.
By understanding the different generations, we can Create a
workplace where people feel energized, motivated to meet
new HR Rule…NO MORE FACE BOOK AT WORK! .

6. Who are the Generations?
[Traditionalist (Born ) – { Yrs} PDGGP]
Baby Boomers (Born ) {52 – 70Yrs} Grandparents
Generation X’rs (Born ) {36 – 51 Yrs} Parents
Millennials (Born ) {23 – 35 Yrs} Who’s the Boss?
Trophy Kids (Born ) {? – 22 Yrs} Lookin 4 Work?
No magic birth date makes you a part of a particular generation. The events and conditions each of us experience during our formative years determine how we are and how we see the world. As a result of these events and conditions, each generation has adopted it’s own generational personality. These conditions and events shape our attitudes, values and work styles.

7. Baby Boomers Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964)
Have changed every market they entered, from the supermarket to the job market to the stock market. They like Teamwork and were taught “to play well with others” in school. Are scared of developing gynecomastia.
Best described by a single word: Optimistic ; also willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Prefer cupcakes made at Home from a store bought mix. (Some from Colorado stores)
Are Hoarders. Downstairs is Immaculate. Upstairs is a Wreck with a Massive Collection of Old Disney Movies. Secretly wish TV still only had those 3 Channels.
Majority of Boomers never plan to retire, they’ll work as long as they can be productive. (OKGAPC)
Leading-edge Baby Boomers – born 1946 – 1954.
Trailing-edge Baby Boomers – born 1955 – 1965.
Biggest invention – the TV set, million TV sets, by 1960, there were 50 million.

8. Generation X’rs Generation X’rs (Born 1965 – 1980)
The most misunderstood generation. Relatively small group – only 46 million.
This group accepts cultural diversity and puts personal life ahead of work life. Typically free agents – not team players. Learned to be self-reliant at an early age. Change: changed homes, cities, parents. Technologically savvy.
Best described in a single word: Skepticism.
Many single-parent homes, latch-key kids of two income families. Created an extremely resourceful and independent generation.
Distrust in institutions – government, church, and business. Less Patriotic. More loyal to people than companies.
Revolutionized the TV invention – cable TV, digital TV, satellite TV, vcrs, video games, fax machines, microwaves, pagers, cell phones, computers.
Violence more prevalent: Aids, drugs, child molesters, drunk drivers (MADD), missing children on milk cartons.

9. Millennials
Millennials, Generation Y or Generation Next ( born from )
Large group, 76 million strong.
Idealistic and social-cause orientation. Have an amazing capacity for multitasking. Environmentally conscious.
Phone calls freak Out Millennials. Don’t Text a Millennial & ask them to Call U. Drink of Choice is the $12 GREEN Juice.2nd Choice French Gatorade – Rose’
Best described in a single word: Netflix
Access to smart phones, iPad’s, latest Hi-Tech gadgets. See these items as a necessity. Value individual relationships and personal satisfaction. Want Boomers to switch from AOL to GMail.!
Feel personal safety is the number one concern at work.
Technology and the media blur the lines between fantasy and reality for this group.

10. Trophy Kids Born since 1993 Fairness Mentality, started in early 1990s
Helicopter moms and dads – Hovering around to make all things Fair
Everyone is a winner: school, sports, band, clubs, media – P Correct
Strong sense of identity – It’s All About Me
Good amount of self confidence- Told “your opinion is valid, it’s yours”
Celebration of individuality – “Hook Up” culture/feels Good – Do It.
Expect: college, good homes, good living, good times
Best described in a single word: ‘wecanhaveitall’

11. Defining Moments & Values
Defining Moments are those events – either short term or long term that are strong enough to have a social consequence.
Defining moments create the ties that bind a generational group together. Defining moments help to define our values.
Core values - molded by external events, they do not change during a person’s lifetime.

12. Baby Boomers (1946 – 1964) Defining Moments: JFK & MLK Jr. Draft
Vietnam War
Man on the Moon
Watergate / Nixon Resigning
Values and Concerns:
Most say NO to TATTOOS.
Love Working – Want To
Health & Wellness
Cynicism/distrust of gov’t
Family commitments - 85% Text Message
Current and Next Lifestage:
Empty nesting
Childrearing
Some grandparenting
Second career
Divorce
Emotions and Affinities:
Nostalgia
Challenge authority
Social justice
Sexually experimental
Generational community
Home ownership
Childrearing into teenage years
Divorce and remarriage
Career change
Casual
Politically ambivalent
Overt materialism
Sexual freedom

13. Baby Boomers Influenced by:
MLK, Jr., JFK, Richard Nixon, Beaver Cleaver, Manson Family, Capt. Kangaroo, Capt. Kirk, Beatles, Partridge Family and Rolling Stones. Steven Spielberg, Ppran Winfrey. TV began revealing events: Vietnam, Watergate, Women’s Rights, Human Rights.
Generation Example

15. Generation X’rs (1965 – 1980) Defining Moments: Reaganomics
Stock Market crash of 1987
Challenger explosion
Fall of Berlin Wall
Gulf War
AIDS Crisis
Values and Concerns:
Free Agency/independence
Friendships
Cynical about future
Savvy
Pursuit of quality of life
Acceptance of violence and sex
26 – 39 years old, 42 million (19%)
Current and Next Lifestage:
Graduate school
Career search
Cohabitation/first child
Marriage
Home ownership
Emotions and Affinities:
Environmental concerns
Social, sexual and ethnic diversity
Sexually cautious
Global community

16. Generation X’rs Influenced by:
Brat Pack, Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Ted Bundy, Al Bundy, Beavis & Butthead, Clarence Thomas, OJ Simpson, Dilbert, Madonna, Supermodels, Michael Jordon, MTV.
24 hour Media began.
Saw almost every hero indicted, exposed or far too human to be a hero.
Divorce rate tripled.
Believe in change management

17. Millennials (1981 – 1992) Defining Moments: Internet explosion
Good economic times
School shootings
Clinton’s impeachment hearings
9-11 terrorist attacks
Values and Concerns:
In No Hurry. Take Longer to Find Themselves
Want More than $$
Change is good
Free Thinkers
Tolerance/diversity
Team Players
18 – 28 years old, 26 million (12%)
Current and Next Lifestage:
High school graduation
College
First job
Dating
Early marriage
Emotions and Affinities:
Brand conscious
Retro and eclectic styles
Socially and environmentally aware
Street smart

18. Millennials Influenced by:
Prince William, Chelsea Clinton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Courtney Love, Britney Spears, Buffy, Felicity, Venus & Serena Williams, Dawson’s Creek, Mark Zuckerberg, Malala Yousafzat. Shot by Taliban
Columbine shootings, 9/11
Raised by highly communicative, participation-oriented parents, Millennials have been included in family decision-making, day to day negotiations.

19. Trophy Kids Defining Moments: Global Warming Twin Towers
Afghanistan / Iraq war
Haiti Earthquake
Barack Obama Election
Economic Fallout ’07/’13
Values and Concerns:
Hope Scholarship
Instant gratification
Living your Dreams
Life is too short
Be happy
Reach the Impossible
Volunteerism

20. Trophy Kids Influenced by: Hip Hop, Harry Potter, Twilight, YouTube,
FaceBook, American Idol, Texting, Twitter,
iPod, iPhone, Snapchat, Sexting
Kanye West, Kardashians, Taylor Swift, Snookie & The Situation
Shaun White, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Google Chrome, Skype & Instagram

21. Resentments?
X'rs resent the generation resistant to change, unwilling to hand over the reins.
Boomers resent X'rs for finding it easy to change jobs and for demanding balance in their lives.
Millennials resent Boomers for leaving the planet a mess when they were suppose to clean it up.

22. Defining Diversity
Boomers believe in equality for women and people of color.
X'rs watched hours of TV and learned Spanish from Sesame Street. Your heritage fits neatly into four distinct categories: White, Black, Asian or Hispanic.
Millennials have also watched hours of TV, seen every imaginable type of person sashay across the screen. They have mixed with one another in day care, classrooms in after-school programs, the internet has made the world more accessible, even their own families are more diverse.
While, Boomers and X'rs have learned to truly accept diversity. Millennials have moved way beyond accepting diversity, they expect it!
When a millennial was applying for a position, a Traditionalist mentions that this company embraces diversity. The millennial asks for clarification, the Traditionalist proudly says we have people of different races and sexes. The millennial says that their high school had more diversity than this workplace and if that is something you see as a big achievement, then I don’t want to work here.
A new recipe is in town, it’s called diversity stew. It contains a variety of ingredients living and working together, but…no one has to melt. Rather than working towards corporate cultures where every one is becoming more similar, it’s time to search out the corners of the office for people who bring different perspectives to the table.

23. Defining Diversity
Diversity has been expanded from race and sex. It also includes, thinking style, education background, geographic location, generation lifestyle, sexual orientation, work experience and more. To a Millennial, a Boomer that has survived ten career changes in their lifetime may be the perfect poster child for a diversity poster.
You may think Diversity refers to people different from U. To other people UR the one who’s different! Valuing Diversity means valuing people who R like U, and those who aren’t.

24. Summary – my kids
One day Erin’s brother, Josh, came in from Cloverleaf, mad at the Principal, and he had decided to go back the next day and take him on.
I simply asked him to change the word School, to the word Work, and now tell me that if he was going to work in the morning, to pick a fight with his boss, who did he think would win?
He said "the boss". I said, "then why pick the fight, if you already know you are going to lose"?
Life is sometimes as simple as recognizing that we are different, and then figuring out how we can work together and be successful!
If you can get past my Gray Hair; I can get past your Flip Flops!
Focus on Outcome/Look for Common Ground/Respect each other.

25. It’s a Generational Thang
I was visiting my daughter Erin last night when I asked if I could borrow the newspaper.
“This is the 21st century dad”, she said. “I don’t waste money on newspapers. Here, you can use my iPad. DUH..”
I can tell you this…..that fly never knew what hit him!

27. The Millennials