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Working and writing across the generations
The document discusses demographic analysis and generational characteristics, focusing on the Baby Boomer, Generation X, and Millennial cohorts. It highlights the influences, attitudes, and work styles of each generation, as well as strategies for effectively communicating and working across age differences. Additionally, it offers insights on how to present information to different generations in a workplace setting.
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Working and writing across the generations
- 1. Writing and Working Acrossthe Generations Steven Jong Picassa 1
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- 3. What are demographics (andwhy do we care?) Demographics are statistics that illustrate the changing structure of human populations 8
- 4. Demographic analysis: the populationpyramid http://fathersforlife.org/population_politics/world_population_pyramids_selected_countries.htm 9
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- 7. Survey: “What makesyour generation unique?” Rank Milennial Gen X Boomer 1 Technology use (24%) Technology use (12%) Work ethic (17%) 2 Music/Pop culture (11%) Work ethic (11%) Respectful (14%) 3 Liberal/tolerant (7%) Conservative/ Traditional (7%) Values/Morals (8%) Pew Research Group 14
- 8. Top photo: GM,from https://usat.ly/2PBrBWBUSAA, from https://bit.ly/2Q1T44D Bottom photo: Getty Images 15
- 9. Generational Theory Kimberly Hoover Booher,Pinterest 16
- 10. Generational theory: the saeculum Boomer(“Prophet”) Gen X (“Nomad”) Millennial (“Hero”) Silent (“Artist”)19
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- 13. “Boomer” generation • Born:1946–1964 (2018: 54–72) • Leader class • Influences: TV, JFK assassination, Vietnam War, Woodstock, Watergate • Attitudes: materialistic, workaholic, individualistic, free- spirited, suspicious of authority • Information needs: text, simplicity • Work style: face-to-face meetings Jacob Lund, Shutterstock 25
- 14. “Gen X” generation •Born: 1965–1980 (2018: 38–53) • Manager class • Influences: computers, video games, Challenger disaster, end of Cold War, Gulf War I • Attitudes: self-reliant, entrepreneurial; mistrustful of government; anxious about jobs • Information needs: text, visual • Work style: hands off CUInsight 26
- 15. “Millennial” generation • Born:1981–1996 (2018: 22– 37) • Worker class • Influences: smartphones, Internet, diversity, Columbine • Attitudes: busy, stressed; collaborative, goal-driven • Information needs: visual, embedded • Work style: hands on Gino Santa Maria, Dreamstime 27
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- 17. Boomer • Life event:JFK assassination • Car: Prius • Goal: Fulfillment • Ideal job: High paying • Work style: Face to face • Trusted source: Brittanica • Success is: Putting in the time • Stressors: Age discrimination Thinkstock 36
- 18. Gen X • Lifeevent: Challenger disaster • Car: Leased BMW • Goal: Balancing work and life • Ideal job: Project leader • Work style: Self-reliant • Trusted source: Google • Success is: Done on time • Stressors: Stuffing my 401(k) Fotolia 37
- 19. Millennial • Life event:Columbine shooting • Car: Uber • Goal: Saving the world • Ideal job: Making an impact • Work style: Group texts • Trusted source: Wikipedia • Success is: Positive feedback • Stressors: Student loans Depositphotos 38
- 20. Presenting Information toDifferent Generations Roman Samborskyi, 123RF 39
- 21. Presenting information tothis younger generation • They may be tech-immersed but not tech-savvy • Don’t write, show (videos are a powerful draw) • Discuss achievements and feedback • Use augmented reality, virtual reality, gamification • Training: video (TEDtalk style) 41
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- 23. Presenting information tothis older generation • Explain new tech in terms of old tech • Show app steps you think are obvious, but aren’t to them • Show how things look when they succeed, and give tips for recovering from errors 45
- 24. Documenting the newcomputers Royal Cyber 47
- 25. Working with DifferentGenerations Getty Images 48
- 26. Boomers in theworkplace are considered: • Experienced with corporate environment • Self-directed • Live to work • Loyal, productive, hard-working • Team players • Competitive • Interested in pay and respect Ernst & Young generation survey, 2013, http://www.ey.com/US/en/Issues/Talent-management/Talent- Survey-The-generational-management-shift 52
- 27. Gen Xers inthe workplace are considered: • Skeptical • Independent • Work to live • Self-starter, self-sufficient • Results-oriented • Flexible, collaborative, problem-solvers • Best equipped to manage © WavebreakMediaMicro, Fotolia 53
- 28. Millennials in theworkplace are considered: • Enthusiastic • Tech-savvy • Entrepreneurial • Inexperienced with corporate environment • Used to constant, individual feedback • Interested in fulfillment more than money • Interested in social goals “Mentoring Millennials,” Meister and Willyerd, Harvard Business Review, May 2010 54
- 29. Working with (significantly) olderpeople • Don’t discriminate by age • Show your work • Do not say, “I have parents your age” even if you do • Never say “This is so easy!” • Don’t roll your eyes—take them seriously, despite their age • Be willing to learn • Look for a mentor • Don’t make the boss look bad in public • If you’re their boss, ask for feedback, and listen • They’ve had to work hard since they were your age to get where they are today • Ignore the occasional insensitive comment—they’re not woke • Tune your messages Scott Griessel, Getty Images 55
- 30. Working with (significantly) youngerpeople • Don’t discriminate by age • Be flexible • Do not say, “I have kids your age!” (even if you do) • Things have changed since you were their age • If you’re the boss, they may still be right • Coach, don’t micromanage • Mentor, don’t boss • Don’t criticize them in front of others • Coach them through the occasional social awkwardness • Tune your messages 57
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- 32. What questions doyou have? shikheigoh, Getty Images 64
- 33. For more information(1) • Strauss and Howe: Generations (1991); The Fourth Turning (1997); Millennials Rising (2000) • Pew Research Center, Millennials: A Portrait of Generation Next, February 2010 • Pew Research Group, “The Whys and Hows of Generations Research,” 3 September 2015 • Richard Fry, “Millennials projected to overtake Baby Boomers as America's largest generation,” Pew Research Center, 1 March 2018 • Victoria Deen McCrady, “Millennials: A New Breed of Novice.” STC Intercom, September 2015 65
- 34. For more information(2) • Tekla S. Perry, “Does Age Discrimination in Tech Start at 40?” IEEE Spectrum, 20 October 2017 • Matthew Hennessey, “Generation X needs to save America from millennials.” N.Y. Post, 5 August 2017. • Ernst & Young, Global Generations: A global study on work-life challenges across generations, 2015 • Jessica Kriegel, Unfairly Labeled: How Your Workplace Can Benefit from Ditching Generational Stereotypes, Wiley, 2016 66