Generational Leadership

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GenerationalLeadership
Understanding Communication and Leadership Issues
with Four Generations of Members
By Michael D. Smith, 33, SGIG in South Carolina
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Understanding Our Generations

• Brothers, we have so much in common
• Our obligations to God and ourselves
• The mystic tie of the Fraternity
• Brotherly love of true Masons
• Passion for our philanthropies!

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Generational Leadership

• Those old white hats run everything and wont
  listen.
• We do it this way because thats the way we have
  always done it.
• If it aint broke dont fix it.
• Our meetings are so boring.
• Why cant we do things differently?

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Recognizing Generational Diversity

• Four generations of members
• Pre-session exercise (Please stand up!)
• Generational introduction
• Which group do I belong to?
• How are the groups defined?
• Characteristics of each

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Defining Our Generations
Sources Express Business Solutions 2007, AASR
SJ 2007
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Traditionals - Loyalty

• Core Need Membership Responsibility
• Remember your first television?
• Survived difficulty (Depression, WWII)
• Value
• Stability
• Security
• Community
• Patriotism
• Reverence of God
• Like structure and form

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Baby Boomers - Optimists

• Core Need Work ethic, Transformation
• Remember your first Color Television?
• Competition for work created work ethic
• Value
• Fairness to all
• Improving things
• Accomplishment of goals
• Like to find work-life balanceas they age

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Generation X - Skeptics

• Core Need Independence / Freedom
• Remember you first Personal Computer?
• Most misunderstood generation due to skeptical
  nature ( Latchkey Kids )
• Tech savvy
• Like to get the job done and move on
• Flexible schedules

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Millennials Wired

• Core Need Respect Engagement
• Remember your first iPOD?
• First Generations to Teach Older Gen
• Like to be involved and respected
• Need to contribute to the team
• Like coaching/mentoring with the tools to do the
  job
• Tech savvy

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The Art of Delegation

• How would you delegate to
• A Traditional?
• A Boomer?
• A Gen-Xer?
• A Millennial?
• How would they respond?

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Traditional Relationships

• Stability Loyalty
• Core Membership and Responsibility
• Characteristic Structured (Military)
• Trust hierarchy, standards, and norms.
• Straight up and to the point with tasks
• Listen to them.
• Respect their experience!
• Share the task and results.

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Boomer Relationships

• Transformational Optimistic
• Core Strong Work Ethic (Competition)
• Characteristic Idealistic - Fairness
• Build Trust Why do we do it this way?
• Like to restructure or improve things
• Aging and now want balance in how they spend time

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Gen-X Relationships

• Entrepreneurial Skeptical
• Core Need Independence (Cultural Shifts)
• Characteristic Resourceful Independent
• Let them do the task creatively and move on
• Like variety and stimulation
• Casual and relaxed environment
• Less structure

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Millenial Relationships

• Wired, Involved and Always On!
• Core Need Fast Response Engagement
• Characteristic Involvement (Information Age)
• First generation to teach older generations

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Millenial Relationships

• Wired, Involved and Always On!
• Must give quick response and feedback
• Get the job done quick with creativity
• Allow them to LeadListen to their suggestions
• Build Loyalty and Trust.

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How to Engage and Retain

• Traditionals
• Define roles and responsibilities.
• Develop specific goals and objectives.
• Stick to the plan and the schedule.
• Respectful languageNo vulgarity.
• Dress appropriatelyProvide formality.
• Respect their experience.
• Listen to them.

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How to Engage and Retain

• Boomers
• Value their experience! Listen to them.
• Recognize their contributions.
• Provide leadership opportunities.
• Politically Correct environment
• ASK themDont TELL them.
• Follow proper etiquette.

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How to Engage and Retain

• Gen Xers
• Quick feedback on their projects
• Allow them to multi-task.
• Dont micromanage their work.
• Provide technology and tools.
• Offer a balance between work and social
  activities.
• Listen to their ideas.

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How to Engage and Retain

• Millennials
• Provide orientation and training.
• Master Craftsman Program and training
• Assign mentors or coache.s
• Respect their ideas - dont talk down to.
• Respond quickly to requests.
• Provide latest tools and technology.
• Recognize their work and results.

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RecognizingGenerational Leadership

• Delegation
• Coaching
• Membership retention
• Education and training programs
• Philanthropy programs
• Improved communicationswith our Brothers!

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Communication Etiquette

• Respect each others time.
• Ask Permission for time.
• Return Calls and Email.
• 24 hours time limit
• Resist Intolerance.
• First seek to understand, only then to be
  understood.
• Identify your motivation.

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Communication Etiquette

• Assume formality with names, thank you, and
  kindness.
• Small recognition work to build teams.
• Connect with members.
• Regular communication Use Technology!
• Keep them in the loop.
• Be aware of your tone.
• People get feelings hurt.

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Communication Etiquette

• Remember Your words are important!
• Your words will always return to you to either
  haunt or bless you as they influence others.
• - F. Hradowski
• A quarrel is an argument that has become
  infected with negative personal emotion.
• - F. Hradowski

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Communication Etiquette

• Appreciation / Recognition
• Honor your Older Members.
• Include your members conversations
  introductions.

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Recognizing Generational Diversity

• Working together
• Understanding each other
• Leading together
• Building a successful team!

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Understanding the Generations

• How is this relevant in My Valley?
• Masonic Education
• Public Relations Programs
• Promoting our Philanthropies
• Organizational Leadership
• Mentoring Program
• Financial Management

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Understanding Our Generations

• Brothers we have so much in common
• Our obligations to God and ourselves
• The mystic tie of the Fraternity
• Brotherly love of true Masons
• Passion for our philanthropies!
• Listen learn from each other!

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Understanding the Generations

• Each Generation Strengthens Us.
• How well we work together will determine our
  survival!
• How well we understand each other will insure our
  success!

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GenerationalLeadership
Understanding Communication and Leadership Issues
with Four Generations of Members
By Michael D. Smith, 33, SGIG in South Carolina