This presentation was from our Different Generations in the Workplace Luncheon, a great event with a wealth of information. Enjoy!

1. Understanding Generational
Differences in the Workplace
Myrna Ann Adkins
Stefan Adkins
Erika Taylor
© 2009 Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning
All rights reserved

2. What is a Generation?
A group of generally
contemporaneous individuals
regarded as having common
cultural or social
characteristics and attitudes

3. Generations at Work
Four Generations at Work
Traditionalists (Matures):
Born 1922 – 1945
Baby Boomers:
Born 1946 – 1964
Generation X:
Born 1965 – 1980
Millennials (Generation Y, Nexters):
Born 1981 – 2001
Cuspers

4. Generations at Work
What are the shared events that
happened during each generation’s
impressionable years?
•Headlines
•Leadership
•Cultural Events
How might these events influence
each generations values?

5. Shared (historical) Events
Traditionalists Baby Gen Xers Millennials
1922 - 1945 Boomers 1965 - 1980 1980 - 2001
1946 - 1964
•Great •Civil •Watergate •Oklahoma
Depression Rights •Women’s City Bombing
•The New movement Liberation •Columbine
Deal •Sexual •Energy and other
•World War II Revolution Crisis school
•FDR – One •Rock & •Space shootings
president Roll Shuttle •Technology
•Korean War •Cold War Challenger •Child
•Space explodes focused world
Travel •Desert •Clinton/Lewin
•Assassina Storm sky
tions •9/11/

6. Personal and Lifestyle Characteristics
Traditionalists Baby Boomers Gen Xers Millennials
1922 - 1945 1946 - 1964 1965 - 1980 1980 - 2001
Core values Respect Optimism, Skepticism, Realism,
authority, involvement informality, confidence,
Conformers, fun social,
Discipline extreme fun
Family Traditional, Disintegrating Latch-key Merged
nuclear kids families,
coddled kids
Education A dream A birthright A way to get An incredible
there expense
Communication Rotary phones, Touch-tone Cell phones; Internet, e-
One-on-one, phones, if its about mail, picture
Write a memo Call me anytime work, only call phones, i-
me at work pods
Money Put it away, Buy now, pay Cautious, Earn to spend
Pay cash, later conservative,
Save, save, save
save

7. Workplace Characteristics
Traditionalists Baby Boomers Gen Xers Millennials
1922 - 1945 1946 - 1964 1965 - 1980 1980 - 2001
Work Ethic Work hard; pay Workaholics, Eliminate the What’s next?
your dues Work efficiently, task, Multitasking,
Respect Personal Self-reliance, Tenacity,
authority, fulfillment, Want Tolerant,
loyal and Desire quality, structure and Goal oriented
unquestioning, Question direction,
Follow rules authority skeptical
Work is… An obligation An exciting A difficult A means to
adventure challenge, an end,
A contract fulfillment
Work/Life Never the twain No balance, Balance Balance
balance shall meet Work to live
Leadership style Directive, Consensual, Everyone is TBD
Command-and- Collegial the same,
control Challenge
others,
Ask why
Interactive style Individual Team player Entrepreneur participative
Communications Formal memo In person Direct, E-mail,
Immediate Voice mail

8. Workplace Characteristics
Traditionalists Baby Boomers Gen Xers Millennials
1922 - 1945 1946 - 1964 1965 - 1980 1980 - 2001
Providing No news is good Official Coaching, Like to be give
feedback news feedback once hands off type feedback often
a year of supervisory and will ask
style often
Messages that Your experience You are valued, Do it your You will work
motivate is respected You are needed way, with other
Forget the bright and
rules creative people
Rewards and Satisfaction in a Like to be Fair Seek
compensation job well done recognized for compensation opportunities
achievements, Opportunities to take on and
Money, to earn extra, be a part of
Title recognition time off, projects,
Enjoyable Need to have
atmosphere fun,
where work Need to have a
isn’t taken too sense of
seriously control over
their
environment
Training and Training should Training is a Training Willing and
Development contribute to the contribution to enhances eager to take
organization’s the versatility in risks, don’t
goals organization’s the mind making
goals, but also a marketplace mistakes –
path to and they consider
promotion and investment in this a learning
compensation their future opportunity
Retirement Put in 30 years, If I retire who I may retire TBD
retire and live off am I? I haven’t early; I’ve
pension and saved any saved my
savings money, so I money…
need to work

9. Books
• When Generations Collide:
Who They Are. Why They
Clash. How to Solve the
Generational Puzzle at Work
~Lynne C. Lancaster
• Generations at Work:
Managing the Clash of
Veterans, Boomers, Xers, and
Nexters in Your Workplace
~Ron Zemke

10. To Listen