Generational

Harmony in

the Workforce

Cody Siewert

Leadership & Organizational Development Consultant

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Millennial Core Values Test your Knowledge

What do you know about the different

decades and generations?

Take 4 minutes and answer as many

questions as you can!

People are at the heart of what we do

Good team and communication is essential to excellent

productivity

Why Learn (More) About Generations?

The gaps in values, experiences, styles and attitudes can

create misunderstanding and frustrations

We have four Generations that are working side-by-side

Strategies for recruitment & retention of staff that worked well

in the past are not as successful today

The Challenge

One of the greatest challenges facing any

organization today is to get all of its members to

realize that to become an outstanding team they

must embrace the diversity within.

Teamwork is critical! -

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Millennial Core Values Objectives

Describe generational differences and values

Understand the impact of different generational

approaches to work and communication

Implement effective strategies to optimize

collaboration

Meet the Generations

Boomer

(1946 to 1964) *51 to 69 years of age

Gen X

(1965 to 1979) *36 – 50 years of age

Millennials

(1980 to 2000) *15 -35 years of age

Gen Z

(2000 to present) *15 years and under

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Millennial Core Values Question: What generation do you find

most challenging to work with?

A. Baby Boomers (ages 69-51)

B. Generation X (ages 50-36)

C. Generation Y (ages 35-15)

https://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/0

Yiw0gy7BFyxoR2

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Millennial Core Values

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-Ql_c7IAsY

40 years ago my generation

wanted to burn universities.

Now we run them. We have

$2 Trillion in buying power

and we will buy anything

that will make us look

and feel younger…

Baby Boomers (1946 to 1964)

“Engage Me”

Baby Boomers (1946-1964)

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Power, Control, Status

Uncomfortable with conflict

Team Players

Baby Boomers (1946-1964)

Hippies to Yuppies

- Didn’t trust anyone over 30

- Love to work and make money

Believe in hierarchical structure

“Face time” at the office

Baby Boomers (1946-1964)

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Competitive

How They Work: Baby Boomers

Extremely hardworking – long hours

I like technology and

check my email and

Facebook

account often; sometimes

even before I turn on the

TV in the morning…

Generation X (1965 to 1979)

“Educate Me”

Generation X (1965-1979)

Work to live

Like informality

Dislike bureaucracy

Direct communication style -

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Generation X (1965-1979)

Latchkey Kids

Generation X (1965-1979)

-Work best on small teams to build skills and assets

-Like to have fun at work, work is a social

environment, create family at work

- Don’t like to “jump through hoops” -

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How They Work: Generation X

-Work to live

- Technology is their ally

I have an appetite for

consumption. My generation

has grown up in an age

of rampant technology.

I am adaptable to all kinds

of new gadgetry…

Millennial (1980 to 2000)

“Connect Me”

Millennials (1980-2000)

Hopeful

Crave feedback

Technologically savvy -

Environmentally conscious

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Millennial (1980-2000)

How They Work: Millennials

-Want a flexible schedule

-Want you to be the leader

-More team oriented and collaborative than Gen X -

-Challenged by face-to-face communication

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Millennial (1980-2000)

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-Want to be respected

“I am curious, driven and

looking to take an active role

in my community and future.

Thanks to technology I have

friends all over the world and

am ready for a global

environment”

“Attract Me”

Generation Z (2000 to Present)

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Millennial Core Values Who is Generation Z?

https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=K1HyDn7dZ1o

Generation Z (2000-Present)

Wary with their money

Entrepreneurial and Collaborative

Technologically Savvy

Social Awareness

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Generation Z (2000-Present)

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Millennial Core Values Questions to Think About

How do they like to communicate?

What is their preferred method of feedback?

What motivates them to stay in your

organization?

Let team members know how they’re doing – often!

Consider the best means for communication-

face-to-face, e-mail, phone, text

Honest, immediate, and unfiltered feedback

Tie feedback directly to performance objectives

Recognize that Generation Y REQUIRE more

feedback than any prior generation group.

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Strategies for Feedback & Communication

Difference in Feedback

Baby Boomers - Once a year whether needed

or not

Generation X - So, how am I doing?

Generation Y - Frequent and immediate

feedback

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Millennial Core Values How to Get to the Common Ground

Understand how they work

Be aware of what they have experienced in

education

Establish clear expectations and accountability

Give effective formative feedback

Hefferman (2009) Managing Generational Difference in the Workplace

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Millennial Core Values How Did You Do?

Answers to Test Your Knowledge

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Millennial Core Values Thank You!