Talkin’ about the Generations

Carly AndersonLeadership Skills for Tech Professionals

carly@stellarleader.com

Generations in the workplace

The Traditionalists born 1922-1945 (67-90 yrs)

The Baby Boomers born 1946-1964 (48-66 yrs)

Gen X born 1965-1980 (32-47 yrs)

Gen Y/Millennials born 1981-1999 (13-31 yrs)

Spot the CEO Notice the ages of the employees What impression are you left with?

The CEO: Tony Hseih – 38 years (Gen X)

1995 Harvard grad, computer science1996 started Linkexchange1998 sold to Microsoft, $265m1999 started Zappos2009 sold to Amazon for $1.3b2010 wrote Delivering Happiness

Zappos.comZapposinsights.com (sell training on creating a GenX/Y workplace culture)

Traditionalists 1922-1945 (67-90 yrs), Boomers 1946-1964 (48-66 yrs)

Gen X 1965-1980 (32-47 yrs), Gen Y/Millennials 1981-1999 (13-31 yrs)-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Break in to groups of your generation

• What are the top 10 things other generations should know about you?

• What’s your biggest frustration with how other generations view you?

Traditionalists (1922-1945)

• Believe in consistency, uniformity, and rules• Command-and-control leadership style• Want automatic respect for being an elder• Believe in logic, and following directions• Have loyalty and respect for authority• Dislike conflict – gravitate toward control• View an understanding of history as a way

to plan for the future• Prefer hierarchical organizational structures

Baby Boomers (1946-1964)

• Focus on individual choice and freedom• Value prosperity and ownership• Focus on health and wellness• Equal rights emerge• Confronted with a diverse workplace• Seek collaborative, group decision-making• Emphasize team-building• “The future is there for the taking”

Generation X (1965 – 1980)

• Both parents working; “latchkey kids” • View parents as “older friends” – byproduct

is autonomy and self-reliance, rather than respect for authority

• Want feedback and recognition• Technology savvy• Want balance between work and rest of life• Want flexible work hours• Unimpressed by titles

Gen Y / Millennials (1981 – 1999 )

• Have never lived without technology• Exceptional multi-taskers• Easily accept diversity, global in perspective• Prefer to work in teams, and value independence• Will there be a future? Columbine, 9/11• Believe work is temporary and unreliable (have

seen their parents lose their jobs)• Nurtured and protected by parents. Want same

from managers/supervisors• Respect must be earned, regardless of age or title

Gen Y / Millennials (1981 – 1999 )continued

• Adapt rapidly, crave change and challenge• Want things instantly (other generations term this

‘entitled’)• Fear living poorly – want lifestyle balance• Seek flexibility in work hours and dress code• Value self-expression more than self-control• Marketing and branding self is important• Seek continued learning (using technology)• Want respect, to be seen as equal

Generations in the workplace

Be not afraidNuke nostalgiaThere are noperfect role modelsThe four-year career

Questions to Ponder

What barriers are you now aware of, that you put between yourself and those of a different generation?

What fresh perspective can you view other generational mindsets from?

What benefits could you get from seeing the worldthe way ‘they’ see it?

Carly Anderson, carly@stellarleader.com