How to get the best out of all four generations in the nonprofit workplace

Who am I?
Consultant, Blogger, Career Coach, Professor, Volunteer
In nonprofit sector 8 years
Capacity building, infrastructure
Interested in leadership studies & application to nonprofit sector
Love travel, music, poetry
Who are you?

Agenda

Baby Boomers Gen Y Gen X Silent Generation

Generational Characteristics
Silent Generation
Born 1925 to 1945
Parents served in WWI, grew up without TV
Conformists, cautious, concerned w/loyalty
Senator John McCain
Respect hard work, sacrifice & discipline, top-down approach
Baby Boomers
Born 1946 to 1964 post- WWII, 80 million strong
Sense of immortality
Sex, drugs, rock & roll
60’s counterculture, later turned conservative
Nixon, civil/women’s rights
Optimism, loyalty

Generational Characteristics
Generation X
“ Slacker Generation”, 45 million strong
Born 1965 to 1979
Desert Storm, the Clinton years, HIV/AIDS
MTV, video games, grunge rock
Individualistic, skeptical, informal
Generation Y
“ Digital Natives, Millennials”
Born 1980 to 2000, 80 million strong
School shootings, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Iraq
High student debt, hi-tech
Confident, social, celebrate diversity, communal

What do other generations think of you? What do you wish other generations knew about you? Form two-four groups: established (Silent & Baby Boomers) & emerging (Gen X & Gen Y). Take 10 minutes to discuss 3 nuggets to share with other group.

Acknowledge their work and contributions
Support their relevancy now, not just in the past
Recognize the legacy they are leaving

Acknowledge younger generations’ leadership, ideas and vision
Provide information and advice based on their experiences that will help younger leaders be more effective
Share power and recognize that newer generations will be leading social change in the future

Not all generational, not limited to under 30
Recent grads, mid-level professionals, senior managers, directors, coordinators, assistants
Possess desire and commitment to take on leadership positions in the sector
Already developing themselves and looking for the next step in their nonprofit careers

Not all generational, but usually limited to Baby Boomers
Current executive directors, board members
Possess many years of experience, wide networks
Already at the pinnacle of careers, looking for ways to retire and pass knowledge to next generation

Only 2% of board members are under 30 62% of board members are 50 and over 73% of nonprofit leaders are Baby Boomers, 88% of foundation CEOs over 41

75% of EDs plan to leave in next five years 45% young professionals plan to leave sector 66% cite work/life balance as disincentive to becoming an ED

1/3 of now generation leaders aspire to become Executive Directors 40% of aspiring executives say they’ll be ready in 5 years There really is NO leadership deficit

“ Younger leaders are not thinking of working 24/7 in their jobs like I did...I think there’s a chance of people coming out healthier, more whole and having a more holistic relationship with the world around them. I think there’s a little resentment that gets played out on both sides. I sometimes feel it, like people in my office don’t want to work as hard.“ – Baby Boomer nonprofit leader

"As a member of Generation X , I feel like I've been forced to sit at the kids table for a bit too long, waiting for positions currently held by baby boomers to open up. But even when they do become available, all too often non-profits look everywhere but within the organization to fill them.“ - Gen X nonprofit leader

What is leadership? Share your definition.

Two Truths 1. Each of us holds the success of the nonprofit community in our own hands. 2. All generations have something to teach and something to learn.

the new nonprofit landscape requires a new kind of leadership

What kinds of leaders do we need in this new environment?
Well-rounded education
Innovation & creativity
Comfort with technology
Willingness to collaborate
Promote diversity & inclusion
Large, diverse social networks
Ethical & accountable

we need more nonprofit leaders

A metaphor for organizations A starfish and a spider appear to be structured similarly, but if you crush a spider's head, it dies. Cut a starfish in half, and you'll end up with two.

everyone’s a leader & anyone can lead

More trust, less control Push power to your networks Mine knowledge at the edges Make it easy to innovate

Raised millions of dollars
Engaged thousands of
volunteers
Supporters took the
message viral
Millions moved to action for a clear purpose
Mission accomplished!

Different generations, different roles

Gen Y: Development

Gen X: Establishment

Baby Boomers: Assessment

Silent Generation: Contribution

How established leaders can build & share leadership
Silent Generation
Mentor Gen X & Gen Y
Remind baby boomers to prepare future leaders
Offer honest assessments of history
Remind others of values
Listen & reminisce when asked
Baby Boomers
Partner with Gen X, bringing them into leadership & giving them authority
Challenge & push Gen X to build leadership skills
Encourage Gen Y
Recognize that social change doesn’t start & end with the Boomers

Be more starfish than spider
Redefine what leadership looks like to you
Be a mentor
Provide frequent feedback
Share your network with emerging leaders
Identify your successor

How emerging leaders can build & share leadership
Generation X
Partner with Boomers to move work ahead & make needed changes
Expect pressure from Gen Y to institute new ways to do the work
Support the development of Gen Y & learn from their ideas
Generation Y
Learn from Gen X & Boomers: content of the work & how it’s currently done
Make mistakes & learn from experiences
Respect contributions of older generations
Confront older generations by raising new ways to do the work

Prioritize professional development
Embark on a stretch assignment
Speak up
Join a board
Work with a professional coach
Find a mentor
Someone whose leadership you admire
Structure relationship – can we meet 4X a year?
Be gracious

How will you lead differently? Each participant share 1 idea.

questions? [email_address] rosettathurman.com @rosettathurman

How to get the best out of all four generations in the nonprofit workplace

by Rosetta Thurman on Apr 25, 2011

Accessibility

Categories

Tags

Upload Details

Usage Rights

Statistics

How to get the best out of all four generations in the nonprofit workplace — Presentation Transcript