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     KEYZINE: An e-zine for LEADERS:
   ABOUT THE PEOPLE PART OF BUSINESS
             Volume 70, January 2007
  Publisher: © Key Associates, 2007
              ISSN # 1545-8873
           http://www.mkkey.com/

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This Issue: "Spanning the Generations"

Contents:

“Not just tolerate, appreciate.”
                                        - Overheard from a good manager

"It's not about finding the best people.  It's about 
being the best.”
                              - Cam Marston

"There is a mysterious cycle in human events.  
To some generations, much is given.
Of other generations, much is expected.
This generation has a rendezvous with destiny.
                              - Franklin D. Roosevelt (1936)

"Thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations,
and thou shalt be called, the repairer of the breach, the 
restorer of the paths to dwell in."
                              - Isaiah 58:12


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WHAT'S HOT IN LEADERSHIP
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ESCHEWING "AGEISM."

TEACHING PEOPLE TO APPRECIATE, NOT 
JUST TOLERATE, DIFFERENCES.

VIEWING THE RICHNESS OF DIVERSITY
AS AN ASSET TO YOUR ORGANIZATION.

DISCOVERING AND UTILIZING THE
TALENTS OF ALL PEOPLE.

TREATING PEOPLE AS AN "N OF 1,"
NOT AS A CATEGORY.

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MAINTAINING YOURSELF AS A LEADER
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Not understanding and appreciating differences
in the workplace breeds derision, division and 
discourtesy among its members.  Values, style, 
history--these are things that are not likely to 
change.  The challenge is to foster appreciation, 
not just tolerance, of differences.

This is the first time in history that we have 
had four generations working side-by-side in  
the workplace.  Tapping into the uniqueness of 
each generation brings strength to the workforce.  
Know the composition of your group and tailor 
your messages for maximum benefit.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What is a generation?

As defined by William Strauss (2007), a cohort 
group (about 20 years from birth to adulthood), 
with: 1) a common age/location in history; 2)
common attitudes and behavior traits; and 3) 
a common collective identity.  Each generation 
rebels by correcting major mistakes of the previous 
one, filling the social void, and breaking stylistically 
from its pop culture-makers.

This is an American phenomenon, he says.  The 
eras are marked by "turnings," about every 17-24 
years, when the current youth generation "comes of age."

Why do things seem to skip generations?  As an
example, the Boomers are usually the teachers, 
mentors, generals, CEOs, and political leaders of 
the Millennials.

 

Please explain the differences between the generations.

GENERATION

TRAITS—WHAT’S MOTIVATING THEM?

Traditionalists/
Matures/Silent or Veterans

(before 1945)
 

Loyalty, honor, duty, discipline, hard work, patience, strong interpersonal skills, do not like to draw attention to self, value quality over speed, conformity, save/make do

Baby Boomers

(1946-1964)

 

Work hard/play hard, risk-taking, ME, materialists,  status, workaholics, competitive, change the world, like team environment, meaningful work, make caring managers,  parents wanted them to have everything

Generation X

(1965-1980)

 

Live for today, no common heroes, cynical, pessimistic, prove it to me, question authority, embrace technology, loyalty to individuals not companies

Millennials/Gen Y/
Nexters

(1981-2000)

Optimistic, individualistic, run in packs, ambitious but appear aimless, instant gratification, technology gurus, difficulty focusing on non-stimulating stuff, seek fulfillment not financial security

 - Marston  & Learning Communications (2007) & Waisman & Bedinger (2007)

 

Can you suggest an exercise to increase understanding 
among the generations and integrate these groups to 
create a stronger workplace? 

Assemble representatives from the generations.  
Post four flipcharts with the years and generation 
categories.  Ask the participants to flipchart what their
generation values as a collective.  "What are we like?" 
is the question.

Then ask each group to rotate clockwise to their 
neighbor's flipchart, draw a line and make suggestions 
about how to invite the talents of this group into the workplace.  
Continue until each group has returned to their original 
flipchart.  Ask them to circle the responses that most 
appeal to them and report these out.

Any method of true dialogue among the groups 
could enhance understanding.  (see Keyzine 
Volume 37, April 2004 - Dialogue: Thinking Together)

 

If there were mottos or a t-shirt for each group, what would they say?

Borrowing from Waisman & Bedinger (2007):

TRADITIONAL  "You're OK and I'm good.   Thank you, sir or madam."

BOOMER   "I'm OK and you're OK.  Be anything you want."

X'ER   "I'm OK but I'm not sure about you, as the jury's still out."

MILLENIALS:  "You're OK and I'm fantastic."


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EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
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Good Video:
"Mixing Four Generations in the Workplace"
http://www.learncom.com/productDetails.do?no=VL6610

Messages that motivate the different generations
http://www.govexec.com/features/0901/0901s1s1.htm

Training: Four generations working together
http://www.capital.org/seminars/description/636.html

Profile of the generations--table
http://www.ihets.org/progserv/education/vb/ProfileFourGenerations_1-10-07.doc

Key Associates offers Diversity training for organizations.  
See http://www.mkkey.com/.  


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OTHER USEFUL WEBSITES 
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Interesting article on the differences of the generations
http://www.fdu.edu/newspubs/magazine/05ws/generations.htm

Four generations working together
http://www.startribune.com/308/story/318314.html

Your leadership style and the generations
http://www.ncsl.org/programs/legismgt/aslcs/carey01.htm

Former Keyzines on related topics:
Volume 18, September 2002 - Organizational Culture
Volume 23, February 2003 - Evolving Workplaces: Telework
Volume 36, March 2004 - Valuing Diversity
Volume 51, June 2005 - Harassment
Volume 54, September 2005 - Minding Manners


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ARTICLES/PUBLICATIONS                              
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Howe, Neil & Strauss, William.   Generations: 
The History of America's Future, 1854-2069.
Harper, 1992.

Howe, Neil & Strauss, William.  13th Generation: 
Abort, Retry, Ignore, Fail?  Vintage, 1993.

Howe, Neil & Strauss, William.  Millenials Rising: 
The Next Great Generation.  Vintage, 2000.

Karp, Hank; Fuller, Connie; Sirias, Danilo. 
Bridging the Boomer Xer Gap: Creating 
Authentic Teams for High Performance at Work. 
Davies-Black Publishing, 2002.

Kersten, Denise. “Today’s Generations Face New 
Communications Gap,” USA Today, November 15, 2002. 

Lancaster, Lynne C.; Stillman, David. When Generations 
Collide: Who They Are, Why They Clash, How to Solve 
the Generational Puzzle at Work. HarperCollins Publishers
Inc., 2002.

Marston, Cam  & Learning Communications.  Video:
Mixing Four Generations in the Workplace (2007).

Martin, Carolyn & Tulgan, Bruce.  Managing the 
Generation Mix: From Collision to Collaboration.  
HRD Press, 2000.

Raines, Claire.  Connecting Generations.  Crisp, 2003.

Strauss, William.  "Generations: The History of 
America's Future."  Presentation given to Oak 
Hill School Parents Association, Nashville TN, 
January 25, 2007.

Strauss, William & Howe, Neil.  The Fourth Turning.  
Broadway Books, 1997.

Waisman, Charlotte & Bedinger, Linda M. 
"Four Generations: Exploring Generational 
Diversity."  The 2007 Pfeiffer Annual: Training,
2007.

Zemke, Ron; Raines, Claire; Filipczak, Bob. 
Generations at Work: Managing the Clash of 
Veterans, Boomers, Xers, and Nexters in Your 
Workplace. American Management Association, 
2000.