Working and writing across the generations
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Boomers and Millennials are significantly different as audiences, coworkers, and managers. This presentation described how we know and how we can communicate information, work with, and work for each generation
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Working and writing across the generations
- 1. Writing and Working Across the Generations Steven Jong Picassa 1
- 3. What are demographics (and why do we care?) Demographics are statistics that illustrate the changing structure of human populations 8
- 4. Demographic analysis: the population pyramid http://fathersforlife.org/population_politics/world_population_pyramids_selected_countries.htm 9
- 7. Survey: “What makes your 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
- 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
- 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 • Life event: 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 to Different Generations Roman Samborskyi, 123RF 39
- 21. Presenting information to this 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
- 23. Presenting information to this 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 new computers Royal Cyber 47
- 25. Working with Different Generations Getty Images 48
- 26. Boomers in the workplace 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 in the 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 the workplace 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) older people • 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) younger people • 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
- 32. What questions do you 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