Managing Across Generations

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Managing Across Generations

• Mary E. Miller
• American Education Services
• PASFAA, October, 2008

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Managing Across Generations

• What is the generation mix?
• How do you leverage everyones unique talents?
• How do you enhance your management skills to lead
  a collaborative generation mix team?

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The Generations

• The Traditionalists (Veterans, Silent Gen)
• Born between 1900-1945
• The Baby Boomers (Boomers)
• Born between 1946-1964
• Generation Xers (Gen Xers)
• Born between 1965-1980
• Generation Y (Millennial, Nexters, Echo-Boomers)
• Born between 1981-2000

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The Generations

• Each share a common history
• Icons can be people, places or things
• Environment conditions influences each generation
  as it comes of age
• Shapes values and work styles
• These differences create the generation gap

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Traditionalists

• Born between1900-1945
• Icons
• People
• Joe McCarthy, Joe DiMaggio, Dr. Spock, Betty
  Crocker
• Places
• Pearl Harbor, Normandy
• Things
• Things were scarce /save for a rainy day,
  symbolism, patriotism
• Events
• WWI, WWII, Roaring 20s, the Great Depression,
  the GI Bill
• Single word description Loyal
• Attributes work together to achieve common
  goals, faith in institutions
• Career Goals Build a legacy
• Clash points
• Not following chain of command

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Baby Boomers

• Born between1946 1964
• Icons
• People
• Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, Beaver
  Cleaver, Captain Kangaroo, Captain Kirk
• Places
• Watergate Hotel, Kent State, Chappaquiddick,
  Laugh-In, Sit-ins.
• Things
• Bell bottoms, mood rings, junk food, television
• Events
• Vietnam, human rights and womens movement
• Single word description Optimistic
• Attributes competitive, embraces challenge,
  adaptive
• Career Goal Build a stellar career
• Clash points
• Change of command

7
Generation X

• Born between 1965 - 1980
• Icons
• People
• Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Ted Bundy, Al Bundy,
  Beavis and Butthead
• Places
• Starbucks, Three Mile Island, Home first
  latchkey children,
• Things
• PCs, microwaves
• Events
• AIDS, MADD, Star Wars
• Single word description Skeptic
• Attributes Extremely resourceful and
  independent
• Career Goals Build a portable career
• Clash points
• Self-command

8
Generation Y

• Born between 1981 - 1999
• Icons
• People
• Prince William, Barney, The Backstreet Boys,
  Oprah
• Places
• Chat rooms, 90210, Cyberspace, Columbine
• Things
• Gangs, Internet
• Single word description Realistic
• Attributes Appreciative of diversity, resilient
  
• Career Goals Build Parallel careers
• Clash points
• Dont command - collaborate

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Cusper

• Someone born on the cusp between two generations
• May identify with one generation more than the
  other
• Natural at mediating, translating and mentoring
• A Cusper makes a great manager

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Generations

• Experience
• Different times
• Different social conditions
• Defines how you
• React to Life
• Respond to Life

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Generations Common Ground

• Bottom Line
• Its about getting the work done
• Focus
• Keep all ages on tract
• In harmony with missions, goals, roles and
  responsibilities
• You, the manager
• Take time to understand and accept differences

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Best Practices

• Vision is about the future, mission is about
  right now
• Why are we here?
• Why does your group exist and how does it align
  with the organization?
• What do we do that no one else can do?
• What makes our team special?
• What would the organization lose if our team
  disappeared?

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Best Practices

• Focus on the work, not the way in which it is
  accomplished
• Everyone knows that they add value
• Pull their weight to get the work done
• What is each persons role or function
• Identify their talents, skills and knowledge
• Identify areas for personal performance
  improvement

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Rewarding Generations

• Traditionalists The satisfaction of a job well
  done
• Baby Boomers Money, title, recognition, corner
  office
• Generation X Freedom is the ultimate reward
• Generation Y Work that has meaning for me
• Fun, Family and Flexibility

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Communication

• Informal
• Formal
• Share to-do lists
• Share accomplishments
• Ask for help

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Evaluate

• Evaluate Team Effectiveness
• Evaluate Individual Team Members
• Team playership
• Conflict-resolution

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Etiquette

• Encourage
• Courtesy
• Kindness
• Respect

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Payoffs

• Recruiting
• Retention
• Managing
• Motivating

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And remember

• No one is right or wrong, we are just different!
• Except for you and me!

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References

• Managing the Generation Mix, Carolyn A. Martin
  Bruce Tulgan
• When Generations Collide, Lynne C. Lancaster and
  David Stillman