From Collision to Collaboration: Understanding Generational Challenges in the Workplace

1
From Collision to Collaboration Understanding
Generational Challenges in the Workplace

• Presented by
• David D. Rabb, MA, LICSW, ACSW
• Executive Assistant, Diversity Advisory Board
• Office of Management Support
• VA Central Office

2
Purpose

• To stimulate thinking and encourage discussion
  surrounding differences, perceptions, and
  expectations of employees from different
  generations.

3
Outline

• Discuss why generational diversity is relevant
  and important
• Explore terms and concepts that are pertinent to
  understanding generational diversity
• Review four main generational mixture groups
• Provide tips on how to relate to each generation
  cohort
• Watch video
• Summarize discussion and provide recommended
  resources

4
Understanding Generational Diversity

• Generational diversity is often overlooked by
  most organizations today
• Presently, there are four different generations
  that participate in our workforce
• Organizations that value generational diversity
  can create a working environment and climate
  where employees feel welcomed

5
Understanding Generational Diversity

• Organizations that are in tune with its
  age-diverse workforce will have a competitive
  advantage over its competitors
• Organizations with a good understanding for of
  generational diversity issues will be in a better
  position to minimize legal cost associated with
  EEO complaints

6
Terms and Concepts

• Diversity Those human qualities that are
  different from our own and outside the groups to
  which we belong, yet present in other individuals
  and groups.
• -VHA Directive 2000-021

7
Terms and Concepts

• Synergy
• The combined effort of two or more objects the
  fusion of two elements that produces a greater
  power or action.
• - Websters
  Dictionary

8
Terms and Concepts

• Diversity Tension
• pressure that occurs when you experience strain
  because of similarities in differences in a group
• Diversity Challenged
• amount of tolerance that a person demonstrates in
  dealing with people and situation that are
  different or unfamiliar
• 
  --Roosevelt Thomas, Jr.
• Building a House for Diversity

9
Terms and Concepts

• Tossed Salad vs. Melting Pot
• Generalization vs. Stereotyping
• Diversity within Diversity

10
Terms and Concepts

• Generation Mixture
• A combination of generations of employees in the
  workforce that have similarities in their core
  values, lifestyle, history, and attitudes.

11
Terms and Concepts

• Generational diversity
• Another aspect of workplace diversity that almost
  every organization has
• Four different generations that participates in
  todays workforce
• Silent Generation (roughly 61 and older)
• Baby Boomers (42 to 60)
• Generation X (26 to 41)
• Generation Y (25 and younger)

12
Terms and Concepts

• Generational diversity (cont-)
• Each of these generations has its own common set
  of social and historical events that have helped
  shape their personal outlook, aspirations, and
  world views
• Each of these generation approaches work and
  career in different ways based on their common
  approaches, ideas, and values
• (Lancaster Stillman, 2002)

13
Generation Mix

• Silent
• Born before 1946
• Approximately 18 million (11 of workforce)
• Traditional values that goes back to 1800
  (Industrial Revolution)
• Authority
• Social Order
• Formality
• Trust
• Hard Work

14
Generation Mix

• Baby Boomers
• Born 1946 1962
• Approximately 58 million (40 of workforce)
• Represent children of WWII Veterans
• Egocentric
• Competition
• Hard Work
• Suspicious of authority
• Change

15
Generation Mix

• Generation Xers
• Born 1965 1977
• Approximately 42 million (30 of workforce)
• Independent
• Technically proficient
• Economically conservative
• Connectivity addiction
• Balance living on the cutting edge
• with work life steadiness

16
Generation Mix

• Gen Yers
• Born 1978 - 1988
• Approximately 20 million (14 of the workforce)
• Represents people that grew up in the high tech
  revolution, aggressive world trade, and war on
  terrorism
• Computer savvy
• Exist in cyberspace via cell phones,
• lap tops, and satellites
• Global citizens
• Team work
• Speed
• Social concerns

17
Collision
18
Issues to Ponder

• Silents and Boomers are retiring at a steady rate
• Not enough Gen Xers and Yers to take the place of
  the Silents and Boomers in the coming years
• Boomers ride into the sunset may be delayed
  because of the financial instabilities of the
  1980s and 1990s They may be in the workforce
  longer, retiring at an older age
• Social Security has raised the age of when people
  can collect their benefits

19
Bottom Line

• We all need learn how to get along!
• We do not have to agree with the values of
  different generations but we can strive to
  understand the mindset of different generations
  and how each group sees the world based on their
  experiences.

20
Tips On Cross Generation Communication

• Silent
• Show respect
• Give your full attention
• Listen
• Ask for advice
• Keep your word
• Communicate verbally and in writing (formal
  style)
• Dont waste their time
• Dont expect them to share their private thoughts
  

21
Tips on Cross Generation Communication

• Baby Boomers
• Show respect
• Give your full attention
• Listen
• Speak in an open, direct style
• Avoid controlling language
• Provide specific details
• Present options
• Dont take yourself too serious

22
Tips On Cross Generation Communication

• Xers
• Show respect
• Give your full attention
• Listen
• Use email as a primary communication tool
• Talk is short bites to keep their attention
• Ask them for feedback and provide feedback
• Communicate in an informal style

23
Tips On Cross Generational Communication

• Yers
• Show respect
• Give your full attention
• Listen
• Use action words and challenge them
• Do not sound like a parent in the workplace
• Use email
• Seek feedback and provide feedback
• Use humor and create a fun environment

24
Summary

• Generational diversity in the workforce is here
  to stay. Having an understanding for and an
  appreciation of the various generations in our
  work setting will help us work towards win-win
  solutions and increase morale and productivity.
  We are never too young or never too old to learn
  how to work together.

25
(No Transcript)
26
(No Transcript)