This document provides leadership lessons from maritime captains. It discusses how different generations have been raised, with older generations rewarded for fitting in and younger ones for standing out. It notes that today's knowledge economy believes hierarchy is outdated, though clear roles and expectations are still important. The best leaders want more for their people and maintain predictable behavior. Interpersonal skills need strengthening in younger generations.

1. Leadership Lessons
from the Wheelhouse

2. For more info:
Cam Marston
Generational Insight
251.479.1990
cam@generationalinsights.com
www.generationalinsights.com
Find us on Facebook:
Generational Insight
and on Twitter: GenInsight
Copyright 2013, Generational Insights
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5. 5

6. 6

7. •As societies become affluent,
success comes from being a
part of the group.
•It’s about Us, We, Team.
•Blend in; don’t stand out.
“He’s a regular Joe.”
“It’s time you get a job.” 7

8. • In affluent societies, youth are raised
to stand out.
•To be different.
•To experiment and explore.
•To be happy.
“You’re special, unique, and different
from everyone else.”
“I hope you’ll find a good job that
makes you happy.” 8

9. `
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10. 10

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12. 12

13. Generations:
•Matures
> 68 yo
•Baby Boomers 49 to 67 yo
•Gen X
34 to 48 yo
•Millennials!! 13 to 33 yo
•iGen < 12 yo
13

14. Key Point #1:
• The < 48 year old population has been raised in
a time where being different and standing out is
not only appropriate but encouraged.
• The > 49 year old population has largely been
rewarded for fitting in and NOT standing out.
Question: Where do you fit? Do you see this in
yourself? Do you see it in the your peers?
Workplace? Students?
14

17. ?
Master
Apprentice

18. Key Point #2:
• In affluent times people enter adulthood later. Gen
X did and today’s Millennials continue this trend.
• Therefore if you’re NOT a member of today’s youth,
the world you knew at their age is much different
than their world today.
• So don’t ever think “This is what I would have
wanted when I was your age.” Its irrelevant.
Is there anything you’re doing or saying that reflects
line of thinking?
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19. Millennials: (apprx. 33 yrs to 13 yrs old)
• Individuals w/ a group orientation (team?)
• Optimistic
• Well looked after.
• Hard time focusing.
• More altruistic other generations at a younger age.
• Busy & stressed at a young age.
• Raised as their parent’s friends.
• Are not adults. Are not adolescents. “Adultolescent”
phase.
• “Future” is very short term.
• Huge goals. Clueless on the execution.
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20. United States
18-34 Year Olds Living with Parents (%)
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Source: US Census Bureau

21. United States
Average Age of Mother at First Birth
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
1970 2008
Source: CDC

22. 22

23. My gut tells me:
Yesterday’s
Baby Today’s
Boomers = Millennials
at at
21 yrs old 29 yrs old
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24. Key Point #3:
• Parenting styles and advances in technology have combined to do
away with many of the hurdles of growing up.
• “Progress” is often focused on making things easier and some of
what has been lost are the defining struggles of childhood:
– boredom on a summer day
– finding a summer job
– learning to communicate and empathize
– conflict management
• If you’re a Boomer, don’t expect Gen X peers to have the same
backgrounds. Gen X, don’t expect it with Millennials.
• Your backgrounds show accomplishments over struggles.
• Theirs will show accomplishments but probably fewer struggles.
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25. Then
vs
Now
25

26. Audie Murphy
• Medal of Honor
• Distinguished Service Cross
• Silver Star
• Legion of Merit
• Bronze Star
• Purple Heart
• US Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal
• Good Conduct Medal
• Distinguished Unit Emblem
• American Campaign Medal
• European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal
• Army of Occupation
• Armed Forces Reserve Medal
• Combat Infantryman Badge
• Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar
• Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar
• French Fourragere
• French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier
• French Croix de Guerre
• French Croix de Guerre with Palm
• Medal of Liberated France
• Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm

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28. “You cannot hold
someone accountable for
something they’ve never
been taught.”
Capt. Ted Ewing
M/V F.R. Biglow
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29. Founding Fathers:
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.
29

31. Think of it this way:
Millennials Self Actualization
Gen X
Esteem Needs
Baby Boomers Belonging Needs
Safety Needs
Matures
Physiological Needs
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32. Key Point #4:
• Today’s knowledge economy has led us to believe that
hierarchy is no longer in vogue in the workplace. Flat is
better.
• True, today’s workplaces are more flat, more level, but that
should only apply to communications, not roles and job
responsibilities.
• Hierarchy in today’s workplace has gotten a bad rap but it
is in fact a good thing and is welcomed when introduced
and explained, not forced.
Where would a clear understanding of hierarchy help you
out? 32

33. “When people are clear that
you care for them, that you’re
looking out for them, and they
clearly know what you want
them to do, morale usually
falls into place.”
Capt. Ted Ewing
M/V F.R. Biglow
33

34. Key Point #5:
The best managers / leaders in today’s society have two
things in common:
1.They want more for their people than their people
want for themselves.
2.Their behavior is predictable. They don’t have “on
days” or “off days”, they’re the same every day. Their
people know what to expect day in and day out.
These behaviors are two big ingredients to inspiring
performance and creating loyalty.
34

35. “You cannot complain
about that which you
tolerate.”
Capt. Shawn Wilmoth
M/V Martha Ingram
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37. The Gen X
Manager...
The Gen X Manager

38. Gen X Managers tend to:
1.Want to manage remotely.
2.Not want to spend much interpersonal time with
subordinates or teammates.
3.Give jobs / goals / deadlines and assume that
they’ll get done and if there are problems, someone
will say something. 60mm
people
4.Draw a line between their team and themselves -
not rudeness, but a “Hey, we just work together,
let’s leave it at that.”
5.Dislike meetings that they deem unnecessary.

39. Gen X Managers MUST:
1.Be visible. Be seen. Get out there.
Engage. “Round”. Interact.
2.Become interested in their team beyond
only how direct reports are doing in their
job.
3.Reaffirm people’s roles and provide
60mm
people
accolades and encouragement.
4.Have meetings for the purpose of building
consensus.

40. Points to Ponder:
•Today’s technology has taken a great toll on
interpersonal communications in Gen X and the
Millennials.
•In dealing with conflict they’ll often prefer to
use their technology devices to talking in
person.
•Do your best to deal with conflict by talking in
person.
•It is a weakness in the younger generations
that must be fixed.

42. According to a University of Michigan study of 13,737
college students in the U.S. by Sarah Konrath at her
associates at the Institute for Social Research, young
people today, compared to college students in the late
1970's are "40% lower in empathy than their
counterparts of 20 or 30 years ago."
The researchers reported than there has been a 48%
decrease in empathetic concern and a 34% decrease
in perspective taking between 1979 and 2009. The
researchers also reported that today's college students
were less likely to have empathetic feelings for people
less fortunate than them.

43. “When I reprimand I do it with
that individual alone and begin
with ‘We have a problem.’ Not
‘You have a problem.’ I want
him to know that I intend for
there to be a mutual solution.”
Capt. Ted Ewing
M/V F.R. Biglow
43

44. “So,” you ask, “what
does all this mean to
me?”
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46. Leadership Lessons
from the Wheelhouse

47. Outlook: 60,000 ft.