One of the biggest changes in business today is 4 generations in the workplace. Generations are groups of people shaped similarly by formative events in their early years. Generational differences create frustration in the workplace but, can also be managed to improve and prepare companies for a sustainable future.

1. Survey & Discuss among 3 or 4 of you…
What issues might come up among
generations in your workplace?
Take 15 minutes and be ready to share.
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3. Generational Differences…
 Create Frustration in the Workplace
 Develop from Formative Events in Young People’s Lives
 Are Opportunities for Innovation
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4. “Why are so many people in their 20s taking so long
to grow up?” reverse mentor ‘Crappy Retail Job’
“enslave themselves in a
monotonous job that means nothing”
Boomerang Kids
Wait your turn!
Loyalty Silents
HappyNomics
Digital Natives “Peter Pan of the Workplace” Slackers
Woodstockers Property of Bridges LLC

5.  Formative Events
› War
› Economic Extremes
› Technological Change
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6.  Traditionalists
 Baby Boomers
 Gen X
 Gen Y
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7.  Most Loyal Workers, Conformists, Builders
 Great Depression, WWII, and Post-war Prosperity
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9. Woodstockers 1946 -1953
 Confident, Self-indulgent
 Change-Makers, Leaders
 Work-Addicted
Young Baby Boomers 1954 -1964
 Less Confident
 Inner Change, Empowerment
 Work-life Balance Martin & Tulgan 2006
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10.  Question Authority, Independent, Entrepreneurs
 Global Economy, Downsizing, Tech Boom
 Latchkey Kids, Work-Life Balance
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11.  Confident, Connected, Open to Change
 Affluence, War, Terrorism
 Diverse, Global, Educated
 Socially Conscious
 We Generation
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12. Are Socialized with Several Core Messages:
 Be Smart
 You are Special
 Leave No One Behind
 Connect 24/7
 Achieve Now
 Serve Your Community
Claire Raines, Generations at Work
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13. Look over the Generations Grid and answer…
 What words best describe you? Check
them.
 What similarities among the generations
do you see?
 How can we tap into the strengths and
assets of each generation?
 Talk about it 15 minutes
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14.  Boseman, G., & Herbison, G.ls. (2009). Here they come-generation y. Are you ready? Journal of
Financial Service Professionals, (2009), 33-34.
 Eisner, S.P. (2005). Managing generation y. Society for the Advancement of Management Advanced
Management Journal, 4-15.
 Jenkins, Jim. (2007), Leading the Four Generations at Work. American Managers Association
 Raines, Claire. (2010) Generations at Work
 Tulgan, B. (2000). Managing generation x: How to bring out the best in young talent. New York: WW
Norton& Company.
 Wesner, M.S., & Miller, T. (2008). Boomers and Millennials have much in common. Organization
Development Journal, 26(3), 89-96.
 Thanks to Mathias Mata for Tech Design
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