1. Please Respect My Generation! 5 Generations at work
SAIGE 10th Annual National Training Conference
Thursday, June 6, 2013
10:15 am – 11:30 am
Northern Quest Hotel, Spokane, Washington
Presented by: Cynthia D. Dunn, Director
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Tax Exempt and Government Entities (TE/GE) Division
Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
Washington, DC

2. Who Am I?
Cynthia Dunn, Director, IRS, TE/GE, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Highest Ranking Native American Ancestry Official in TE/GE
33 Years of Federal Service
EEO/EDI/Diversity/Civil Rights Field since 1992
Lifetime Member of SAIGE
Tribal Affiliation = Crow, Blackfeet, and
Black Hawk
Proud Mother and Grandmother

3. Agenda Generational BINGO – Opening Exercise The Aging Workforce
The Five Generations at Work
Generational Communication/Biases
Generational Talk – Exercise
Generational Quotes
The F.A.I.R. Approach to Generational Diversity
A Quick Review
The Way We Lived - Exercise
Our Future Generation
Questions?
Contact Information

4. Generational Diversity Bingo – Opening Exercise
A person over 50 years of age
A lifetime member of SAIGE
A person who has attended a Tribal College or University
A person who speaks more than one language
1st time in Spokane
A person who is of Navajo decent
A person who grew up on an Indian reservation
A person under 30 years of age
A person who has lived outside of the USA
A person who is left-handed
A person who has attended more than one SAIGE Conference
A person who marched for a cause
FREE SPACE
A person who has worked for 3 or more federal government agencies
A person who is registered with the Bureau of Indian Affairs
A person who has over 25 years of federal service
A person with American Indian/ Alaskan Native heritage
A person who was born on a recognized day of celebration
A person who has attended a
Pow Wow
SAIGE Board Member (present or past)
A person who has both parents still living
A person who has experienced discrimination
1st SAIGE Conference
A person who has less than 10 years of federal service
Cherokee Tribal Affiliation

5. Generational Diversity BINGO

6. The Aging Workforce

7. People are Living Longer…
George Roberts, born 1908, Oldest and Longest-serving Federal Employee
Emma Tillman, born 1892, 114 yrs old January 28, 2007
Madame Jeanne Louise Calment, born years, 164 days old August 4, 1997)

8. The Aging Workforce

9. The Five Generations at work

10. Matures Born before 1939 Influenced by the Military 35 million people
today
Hard Workers
Respect for Rules
Dedicated to the Job

11. Tips on Working with Matures
Allow the employee to set the “rules of engagement”
Ask what has worked for them in the past and fit your approach to that experience
Let them define quality and fit your approach to that definition
Use testimonials from the nation’s institutions (government, business, or people)
Emphasize that you’ve seen a particular approach work in the past, don’t highlight uniqueness

12. Baby Boomers 1940-1963 Most influential people today 80 million people
Team Oriented
Personal Gratification and Growth
Ambitious and Driven to Succeed

13. Tips on Working with Baby Boomers
Show them how you can help them use time wisely
Assess their comfort level with technology in advance
Demonstrate how important a strong team is
Customize your style to their unique needs
Emphasize that working with you will be a good experience for them
Emphasize that their decision is a good one and a “victory” for them—they’re competitive and want to win
Follow up and check in and ask how the individual is doing on a regular basis

14. Generation X 1964-1980 Prove it to me 45 million people
Fun and Informative
Self Reliant and Pragmatic
Techno Literacy

15. Tips on Working with Generation X
Put all the options on the table
Be prepared to answer “why”
Present yourself as an information provider
Use their peers as testimonials when possible
Appear to enjoy your work
Follow up and meet your commitments. They’re eager to improve and expect you to follow through

16. Generation Millennials or Generation Y
Instant Gratification
75 million people
Feel Civic Duty
Optimistic
Achievement Oriented

17. Tips on Working with Millennials/Generation Y
Offer customization—a plan specific to them
Offer peer-level examples
Spend time providing information and guidance
Be impressed with their decisions

18. Newest Generation – Generation 9/11
Born after 1991
Less optimistic about the future
Not many are in the workforce yet
Questions the Importance of College
All They Know is War
Start Working early

19. Tips on Working with Generation 9/11
Understand that all they know is war, consequently they will face the aftermath of the Iraq war and the effects of today’s political decisions.
They are emotionally tied to global violence and economic issues.
If dissatisfied in the workplace they are most likely to change jobs
We’ll be learning more about this generation over time

20. Tips on Working with Generation 9/11
Understand that all they know is war, consequently they will face the aftermath of the Iraq war and the effects of today’s political decisions.
They are emotionally tied to global violence and economic issues.
If dissatisfied in the workplace they are most likely to change jobs
We’ll be learning more about this generation over time

21. Generational Communication
How is communicating with someone from another generation different from communicating with someone from your own generation? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages?

22. Determining Generational Biases
How do you prefer to communicate – or phone?
What operating system are you running?
Do you participate or allow your employees participate in the alternate work schedules?

23. What Can We Do to Keep Generational Biases Out of the Workplace?
Understand that generations, like ethic traits or other personal characteristics, help make us who we are. These differences contribute to a diverse and vibrant workplace.
Respect those differences.
Try to understand those differences and think positively about them.
Treat others with respect at all times.
Try to avoid all stereotypes, be they negative or positive.
Remember that all traits of a generation may not apply to everyone in that generation.
Try to be flexible with others.
Explain to others why it is wrong if you feel that you’re being stereotyped.
Try to learn from one another what each generation has to offer.

24. Generational Talk - Exercise
Acronyms or Text Talk?
Abbreviations?
Social Media (Facebook, twitter, texting)
What in the world does that stand for?

25. Generational Quotes
“Wisdom is perishable. Unlike information or knowledge, it cannot be stored in a computer or recorded in a book. It expires with each passing generation.” “Before you go and criticize the younger generation, just remember who raised them.” “Blessed is the generation in which the old listen to the young; and doubly blessed is the generation in which the young listen to the old”

26. F.A.I.R. Approach to Generational Diversity
F = Feedback
A = Assistance
I = Inclusion
R = Respect

27. A Quick Review
Generational context is not about age, but common experiences
Acknowledge your team’s expectations, not just your own
Different is neither right nor wrong, just different
Age-ism is the death of any coaching strategy
Generational understanding does not take the place of concern for the individual
Different generations care about different approaches to the same problem – highlight points accordingly
Technology is not universal – assess your team members’ affinity level before making communication assumptions

28. The Way We Lived… A Generational Exercise
Name a political or major event that impacted your life/generation.
Tell us about your music/movies/food/ clothing.
Describe to us the technology in your generation.
Who are your heroes?
What do you like about your generation?

29. Our Future Generation

30. Questions?

31. MY Contact Information
Cynthia Dunn, Director,
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)
IRS - TE/GE: Office of EDI
999 North Capitol Street, NE
Washington, DC
Phone:
Cell: