Making the Most of Generational

Differences

Presented by Terry Stewart Mouchayleh, Ph.D.Director of Professional Development & Evaluation

Austin Community College District

The American Workplace: Who are We?

Veterans: Also called the Silent Generation, Traditionalists and Seniors, these individuals were born between 1922 and 1943.

Baby Boomers: Born between 1943 and 1960, the generation is also referred to as the Me Generation, and the Sandwich Generation.

Generation X: This group of individuals was born between 1960 and 1980 and is sometimes called the Baby Bust Generation.

Millennials: Also referred to as the Echos, the Nexters, and Generation Y, these individuals were born between 1980 and 2000.

Quick Poll

Who are we in this room?

Why Does it Matter?

For the first time in American history, four generations are side-by-side in the workplace.

“All employees must expand their comfort zone with other generations. When each generation understands the characteristics, values and motivations of the others, there is a greater appreciation of what everyone brings to the workplace.”

--Freda Turner, Jacksonville Business Journal

It’s all about communication and understanding with whom you are

communicating.

Veterans

Depression era children

World War II

Great sense of loyalty

Desire to be accepted socially

Fairly conservative

Defined by work

Desire to succeed—pay dues

Baby Boomers

All about Me

Created social change

First wave of working women

More than one marriage

Big spenders-poor savers

Desire to succeed—pay dues

Generation X

Latchkey kids Function well alone Raised on electronic

media Often children of divorce

and non-traditional family units

Sometimes seen as barriers to parents’ success

Use of newest technology is a given

Tend to be pessimistic and skeptical of authority and institutions

Short attention spans

Quick Quiz: What is a Gen X defining movie?

Millennial Generation

Younger siblings of Gen Xers

Benefited from parents’ later life success

Gravitate toward group activity

Identify with parents’ values

New technology is a given

Are racially and ethnically diverse

Often have at least one immigrant parent

Short attention spans

Quick Quiz

How do Millennials feel about older generations?

Employment Characteristics

Veterans: loyalty to employer, hard work, dependability, personal touch, obedience over individualism

Baby Boomers: Belief in paying dues, sense of duty, sacrifice for success, loyalty to employer, salary contributes to satisfaction

Gen X: tech skills, entrepreneurial, mobility/flexibility at work, lack of work loyalty, want balance of work and home life, need immediate feedback, desire for challenge

Millennial generation: tech skills, expectation of diversity, rapid results/immediate feedback, mobility/flexibility at work, want balance of work and home life, independence, desire for challenge.

Quick QuizWhich of these is not a common way that Millennial generation individuals communicate?A. PhoneB. EmailC. My Space/FacebookD. Text messaging

Okay, fine, but why the huge differences?

Answer:

Technology

Parenting

Helicopter Parents

Are Gen Xers and Millennials Alike?

60% of Millennials and <40% of Gen Xers are comfortable speaking with professors

60% of Millennials and 29% of Gen Xers are comfortable asking for special treatment

70% of Millennials and 40% of Gen Xers believe that authority figures should set and enforce rules

60% of Millennials and 35% of Gen Xers feel comfortable challenging professors on grades

--Molly Epstein, Emory University, 2007

Quick Quiz

Do Gen Xers enjoy group activities?

Famous Last Words: “Well, they’ll just have to get used to the way we do

things around here.”

Well . . . .

“Highly skilled Generation X junior officers and enlisted soldiers are leaving in droves. The lure of higher paying civilian jobs is only part of the problem. . . many of these young Gen X officers are not merely leaving for financial reasons, but for management reasons. They don’t believe their older more senior-ranking officers understand their needs or manage them properly.”

--Gregory P. Smith, Managing the New Workforce

And . . . .

“Generation X employees tend to be less motivated by promises of overtime pay and more motivated by personal satisfaction with their job.”

--Gregory P. Smith

“I used to entice my teachers to work on extra projects by paying stipends. This new crop won’t even do it for money.”

--Texas public school administrator

Of course there’s this . . . .

Millennial generation employees “. . . Refuse to do the ‘what’ until they hear the ‘why.’ Raised by teachers and parents who allowed them to freely speak their minds, these employees can drive managers crazy with questions . . . “

--Lynne Curry, Managing the GenX/Y Employee

“These high maintenance Millennials, like their predecessors . . . are great multi-taskers but with 10 times the speed of their older siblings. . . . They come into the work force with technological knowledge that didn’t exist even when Gen Xerswere entering the workforce.”

--Ji Hyun Lee, Office Politics Manager

Suggestions for Making it Work

Take the Risk

Expect Frustration

Expect Surprises

Encourage Mentoring

Cont’d

Encourage Collaboration

Be Open About the Differences

Clearly State Expectations

Stay Informed/Educate Yourself

Know Your Staff/Clients

Benefits

Enhanced Creativity

Creative Problem-Solving

Variety of Viewpoint Offers More Options

Better Understanding of Those you Serve & Educate

Better Understanding of Our New Social Mix

“My favorite kind movie is one that gets me so focused on it that I don’t even

look to see who’s texting me.”