The document explores the characteristics, formative events, and leadership styles of different generations in the workplace, including Matures/Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials. It emphasizes the importance of understanding these differences to enhance communication and collaboration among diverse age groups. Activities and scenarios are included to facilitate discussion on generational responses to workplace changes and successes.

1. Generations at Work: understanding generations in the workplace

2. Introductions Your Name Your GP Something you’ve heard said about one of the generations in the workplace Turn to someone next to you and take turns sharing…

3. Generations in the Workplace 1977-1995 Pre-1946 1946-1964 1965-1976

4. Activity Think about a major news event you remember from your childhood. Turn to someone near you and talk about the event. Take turns doing this for about 3 minutes

5. Generations at Work Matures/Traditionalists Pre-1946 Baby Boomers 1946-1964 Generation X 1965-1976 Generation Y/Milleninials 1977-1995

6. Source: http://larsegeland.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/born-digital-native.jpg?w=300&h=275 No, you weren’t downloaded. You were born.

7. “ To this generation, the Internet is like the fridge. They don’t belabor the nuts and bolts of its operation; it’s just part of life.” Don Tabscott, “grown up digital”

8. Matures/Traditionalists Formative events: Great Depression Pearl Harbor World War II

9. Matures/Traditionalists Characteristics: Dedication and Sacrifice “ We ” First Conforming, Blending , Unity Command & control Age = Seniority

10. Matures/Traditionalists Leadership Style: Direct, command & control Interaction: Individualist

11. Matures/Traditionalists Other: Experience is respected Education for many was a dream Save and pay with cash Family is traditional

12. Baby Boomers Formative events: Civil Rights Cold War Woodstock

13. Baby Boomers Characteristics: The harder I work, the more I’m worth Success is visible Defined by their job

14. Baby Boomers Leadership Style: Consensual Interaction: Team player Love to hate meetings

15. Baby Boomers Other: Want to feel valued and needed Education is a birthright Family begins disintegration Buy now, pay later

16. Generation X Formative events: Watergate Vietnam War PC Boom

17. Generation X Characteristics: Cynical and pessimistic - “Prove it to me” Suspicious of boomer values Raised as their parents friends Latchkey kids Carpe Diem – seize the day/live for today

18. Generation X Leadership Style: Everyone is the same Challenge others Interaction: Entrepreneur

19. Generation X Other: Freedom is best reward Money cautious…save, save, save Education is the way to get there

20. Generation Y/Millenials Formative events: Internet Mobile Technology September 11th

21. Generation Y/Millenials Characteristics: Individualistic yet group oriented Work style: work to deadlines & goals , not schedules Fond relationship with grandparents and parents Ambitious yet appear aimless

22. Generation Y/Millenials Leadership Style: TBD Interaction: Participative

23. Generation Y/Millenials Other: Meaningful work Merged families Earn money to spend it

24. “ The Net Generation is in many ways the antithesis of the TV generation. This shift from one-way broadcast media to interactive media has had a profound effect on the Net Gen.” Don Tapscott, “grown up digital”

25. “ It’s not necessarily a clash between Net Geners and boomers as human beings. It’s a clash between two ideas of how work should work.” Don Tapscott, “grown up digital”

26. Commonalities Respect Trust from and for supervisor Balance autonomy and support Clear communication Timely and specific feedback

27. Communication Which generation? Treat as an equal Ask questions Look for agreement opportunities Baby Boomers

28. Communication Which generation? Be candid; avoid jargon, etc Make asking questions easy Gen X

29. Communication Which generation? Use good grammar Give background - expectations, policies, who’s who Matures/ Traditionalists

30. Communication Which generation? Positive Respectful & goal focused Electronic Gen Y

31. Feedback “ No news is good news” Matures/ Traditionalists

32. Feedback “ Sorry to interrupt, but how am I doing?” Gen X

33. Feedback “ Feedback whenever I want at the push of a button” Gen Y

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

35. Activity Form a small group with 3-4 people sitting around you. Choose one of the following scenarios and talk about how each generation might respond. If time permits, discuss the other scenario.

36. Scenarios Scenario 1 There is a change in the dress code at work. How do the different generations find out more about it and how might they respond to it. Scenario 2 A project team has just completed a project on time, on budget, and received high client satisfaction ratings. How might team members from each generation respond to the success and how might they want to be recognized for the achievement.

37. Making it Work Focus on commonalities Respect the differences

38. “ Each one of us is, in some way, an authority in some domains and a student in other domains. We must be prepared to learn major things from our subordinates and vice versa.” John Seely Brown

39. Acknowledgements & Resources “ grown up digital” By Don Tapscott Jason Ryan Dorsey “ The Gen Y Guy” , www.jasondorsey.com Dr. Tracy Russo University of Kansas, Ph.D., Communication Studies, KU Sally Koppy Training & Development Specialist, Institutional Culture, KC University of Medicine and Biosciences Misc. twitter followers Karen, Lori, ALA Learning

40. Additional Course If you manager or supervise others, plan to attend “Managing Generations at Work” Apr 22 (WHQ, Auditorium) Jul 13 (WHQ, Auditorium)

41. Use it or Lose it

42. Discuss!