P, R & T Staff Retreat Nov. 1-2, 2007

Workers in the 21 st Century Today’s workforce spans four generations As Americans live and work longer, there are overlapping generations in different life stages Each generation contributes its own values, attitudes and perceptions to an evolving workplace “ Every person is in many respects: like all other people … like some other people … like no other person.”

Today’s workforce spans four generations

As Americans live and work longer, there are overlapping generations in different life stages

Each generation contributes its own values, attitudes and perceptions to an evolving workplace

“ Every person is in many respects:

like all other people …

like some other people …

like no other person.”

Generations Over Time Traditionals 1930 – 1945 Boomers 1946 – 1964 Gen X 1965 – 1980 Millennials 1980 – 2001 1930 2000

Generation Basics What’s a generation? - Shared birth years - Go through similar life stages together Shared experiences: - Formative years (ages 8-13) - Coming of age years (ages 14-19) Shared early experiences shape their values and world view

What’s a generation? - Shared birth years - Go through similar life stages together

Shared experiences:

- Formative years (ages 8-13) - Coming of age years (ages 14-19)

Shared early experiences shape their values and world view

Generational Events & Influences Think back to when you were in 7 th - 8 th grade Who was president? What TV shows or music groups were popular? What was the latest technology? Who were national heroes or role models?

Think back to when you were in

7 th - 8 th grade

Who was president?

What TV shows or music groups were popular?

What was the latest technology?

Who were national heroes or role models?

What are you saying? Pair up with someone you don’t know or don’t usually work with, and who is from a different generation than yours.

Pair up with someone you don’t know or don’t usually work with, and who is from a different generation than yours.

Generational Differences What would you like other generations to understand about your own generation? What motivates you? How do you use technology in your everyday activities outside of work? How do you like to be appreciated or recognized for work done well?

What would you like other generations to understand about your own generation?

What motivates you?

How do you use technology in your everyday activities outside of work?

How do you like to be appreciated or recognized for work done well?

Understanding the Four Generations

Grew up in the Depression FDR Social Security World War II Pearl Harbor Korean War GI Bill The Traditional Generation

Traditionals in the Workplace Contribution, Duty, Loyalty Disciplined and committed Civic minded and duty oriented Carry Organization history Willing to reinvent themselves Appreciate courtesy In 2005, ages 60-72

Contribution, Duty, Loyalty

Disciplined and committed

Civic minded and duty oriented

Carry Organization history

Willing to reinvent themselves

Appreciate courtesy

In 2005, ages 60-72

Civil Rights JFK Cuban Missile Crisis Vietnam Xerox Copier Moon Landing Woodstock Women’s Lib. Watergate Baby Boomers

The Baby Boomers

Boomers in the Workplace Individuality, Effort, Improvement Corporate navigators and change agents Drive to compete and excel Relationship oriented Hard work = Badge of Honor Searching their souls In 2005, ages 41-59

Individuality, Effort, Improvement

Corporate navigators and change agents

Drive to compete and excel

Relationship oriented

Hard work = Badge of Honor

Searching their souls

In 2005, ages 41-59

Energy Crisis First PC’s Corporate Layoffs John Lennon’s Murder The Challenger Disaster Exxon Valdez Fall of The Berlin Wall Aids Generation X

Xer’s in the Workplace Independence, Options, Pragmatism Diverse and entrepreneurial Flexible and adaptable Outcome oriented I’m having a life – right now! Emerging family issues In 2005, ages 29-40

Independence, Options, Pragmatism

Diverse and entrepreneurial

Flexible and adaptable

Outcome oriented

I’m having a life – right now!

Emerging family issues

In 2005, ages 29-40

Desert Storm War in Kosovo The Internet Oklahoma City Bombing Clinton Scandals Columbine September 11 Millennials

The Millennials

Millennials in the Workplace Informal, Time Structured, Achievement “ Digital Natives” Multi-taskers Social Networkers Multi-cultural Community Service In 2005, ages 7-28

Informal, Time Structured, Achievement

“ Digital Natives”

Multi-taskers

Social Networkers

Multi-cultural

Community Service

In 2005, ages 7-28

How do we work together? Acknowledge the benefits and workplace issues important to each employee age group. Younger employees generally prefer to be given a task, have it explained, and then be left alone to figure it out for themselves. Seniors tend to be less confident with new technology and may need extra time and/or training to learn a new task. The goal is to create an environment in which all employees are comfortable and willing to work together.

Acknowledge the benefits and workplace issues important to each employee age group.

Younger employees generally prefer to be given a task, have it explained, and then be left alone to figure it out for themselves.

Seniors tend to be less confident with new technology and may need extra time and/or training to learn a new task.

The goal is to create an environment in which all employees are comfortable and willing to work together.

Differences in Receiving Feedback Traditionals – “No news is good news.” Boomers – “Feedback once a year and lots of documentation.” Xers – “Sorry to interrupt, but how am I doing?” Millennials – “Feedback whenever I want it at the push of a button.”

Traditionals – “No news is good news.”

Boomers – “Feedback once a year and lots of documentation.”

Xers – “Sorry to interrupt, but how am I doing?”

Millennials – “Feedback whenever I want it at the push of a button.”

Generation Interactions Veterans and Boomers have set the status quo and thus may not like it being challenged. This may cause confusion and resentment among the Xers and Millennials who have been taught to speak up.

Veterans and Boomers have set the status quo and thus may not like it being challenged.

This may cause confusion and resentment among the Xers and Millennials who have been taught to speak up.

Xers and Millennials have had different life experiences and communicate with people differently (more text based). They may fail to actively listen to Boomers and Veterans thereby missing valuable information and guidance.

Xers and Millennials have had different life experiences and communicate with people differently (more text based).

They may fail to actively listen to Boomers and Veterans thereby missing valuable information and guidance.

What matters to each Generation “ We’re going places” High opportunity to socialize Clear deadlines, structures task Millennial “ You’re in control” Self- Directed, not location bound Allows them to be Independent Gen X “ Your work makes a difference” Team oriented, peer support Friendly, fit in as “one of us” Boomer “ You’re doing your part” Orderly, follows a clear hierarchy Fair, Logical, Direct Traditional Ideal Boss Ideal Workplace Message

People judge based on their own framework. Acknowledge that, consciously or not, you have a generational bias, a preference for how things are done. Minimize your own generational framework Allow time to talk about differing needs and goals.

Acknowledge that, consciously or not, you have a generational bias, a preference for how things are done.

Minimize your own generational framework

Allow time to talk about differing needs and goals.

Bridging the Gap…and Taking It Back Which generations are represented in your department? What are the implications for our approach to learning and development? How must we adapt in order to be generation friendly?

Which generations are represented in your department?

What are the implications for our approach to learning and development?

How must we adapt in order to be generation friendly?

Engaging the Generations™ Compelling to members of all Generations clarify Career customize Communication create Climate engages all generations