Find out how to harness the understanding of generational motivation for better instruction techniques

1. A Partner in
Learn With Me!
Training Multiple Generations
Sherri Petro 2009

2. The Objectives
♦ Define the generational mix
♦ Discuss the differences of the four
generations in the classroom
♦ Share “generational” best practices to
increase the learning in your training
classes
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3. The Generation Mix In 2009
♦ Traditionalists ♦ Generation X
– Born 1925-45 – Born 1965-80
– 64-84 years – 29-44 years
♦ Baby Boomers ♦ Generation Y
– Born 1946-64 – Born 1981-?
– 45-63 years – 18-28 years
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4. National Landscape 2006
6.5%
22.5%
Traditionalists
Baby Boomers
41% Generation X
Generation Y
30%
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5. Clarifying Question
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6. Affects in the Classroom
♦ Time sensitivities ♦ Classroom etiquette
♦ Different ♦ Change
communication ♦ Respect
vehicles ♦ Entitlement
♦ Subscription to ♦ Engagement
technology
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7. Generational Group Exercise
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8. Generational Group Discussion
1. What motivates your generation?
2. What are you most proud of about your
generation?
3. What do you wish the other generations
appreciated about yours?
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9. Traditionalists Style
♦ Respect for authority
♦ Loyal
♦ Practical and patient
♦ Can be tough for them to
use their own judgment
♦ Why customize?
♦ Separation of work and
home
♦ Their goal is to build a
legacy
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10. Traditionalists: Training and
Learning Strategies
♦ •Prefer to learn in the morning
♦ Sage on the stage
♦ Lecture
♦ Q&A
♦ Dislike being called on…
♦ Link learning to organizational goals
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11. Baby Boomers Style
♦ Appreciate process
♦ Team work and collaboration
♦ Self-improvement
♦ Strong work ethic
♦ Optimistic and idealistic
♦ Struggle with work/life balance
♦ Prefer tactile learning
♦ Goal is to put their stamp on things
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12. Baby Boomers: Training and
Learning Strategies
♦ •Facilitated, instructor-led
♦ Interactive and group learning
♦ Need time to practice skills
♦ Prefer tactile learning
♦ Like books, PPT, and hand-outs
♦ Link learning to new ways to add value
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13. Generation X Style
♦ Appreciate results and ♦ Values diversity
outcomes ♦ Informal
♦ Like to solve their own ♦ Quick study
problems ♦ Look for the sound bytes
♦ Multi-taskers ♦ Work solo and yet on
♦ Fiercely independent teams
♦ Direct communicators ♦ Need for external
versus reading in recognition as reward
between the lines ♦ Goal is maintaining
♦ Skeptical independence
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14. Generation X: Training and
Learning Styles
♦ Focus on outcomes versus techniques
♦ Make learning experiential, problem–solving
♦ Control over own learning
♦ Like parallel thinking
♦ Go with key points
♦ Flexibility in scheduling
♦ Link learning to their marketability
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15. Generation Y Style
♦ Digital natives ♦ Multi-taskers
♦ Menu-driven thinking ♦ Desire mutual respect
♦ Work on their own terms ♦ Ready for collaboration
♦ Are looking for a cause
♦ Think globally
♦ Meaningful work
♦ Have positive expectations
♦ Celebrate diversity
♦ Want customization
♦ Acknowledgement for
♦ Desire interactivity being here
♦ Express to express -- not to ♦ Looking for an
impress you experience
Goal is to find work and create a life that has meaning
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16. Gen Y: Training and Learning
Strategies
♦ Edutainment - both fun and learning
♦ Mis-takes
♦ Teamwork and technology
♦ Like discovery and mystery of unanswered
questions
♦ Engaged to retain info
♦ Link learning to making a future (both
making a difference and making money)
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17. Similarities*
♦ We receive great reward
– For the work we do
– From the people we work with
– And the belief that we are contributing to
society and our current jobs
♦ We receive great satisfaction from our
accomplishments at work
• CCL Emerging Leaders Research by Ross DePinto, 2003
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18. Generational Similarities
♦ We have
– A desire to learn
– A desire to be acknowledged
– A desire to be rewarded
♦ We want
– To be trusted, valued and respected
– To succeed
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19. General Suggestions
♦ Employ a student and teacher mindset
♦ Encouragement enlargement of ideas with
participants
♦ Dialogue vs debate
♦ Conduct a temperature check survey in the
classroom
♦ Allow informal & scheduled times on the agenda
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21. Thank You!
Sherri Petro
VPI Strategies, a Partner in
sherri@vpistrategies.com
www.workplaceevolution.com
858-583-3097
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