Foxtrot to Rap and How to Make Them

Foxtrot to Rap and How to Make Them Jive Together Canadian Fairs and Exhibitions National Conference November 17, 2007

Agenda • • • Identify your generational timeline Building stronger teams Lifestyle Characteristics Workplace Characteristics What generations want to hear What I can do

Which do you relate to?

Which timeline are you in? 1922 -1945 Traditionalists 1946 -1964 1965 -1980 1981 -2000 Baby Boomers Generation X Generation Y

Who’s Who? Traditionalists - 52 million people • Born between 1922 and 1945. • Born before or during World War II and their earliest experiences are associated with that world event. Some also remember the Great Depression. • On the job they like to be valued for their expertise and know how.

Baby Boomers - 73. 2 million people • Born between 1946 -1964 • Born during or after world War II and raised in an era of extreme optimism, opportunity, and progress. • Boomers, for the most part, grew up in two-parent households, safe schools, job security and post-war prosperity. • They represent about two-thirds of all U. S. workers. • On the job, they value loyalty, respect the organizational hierarchy, and generally wait their turn for advancement.

Generation Xers - 70. 1 million people • Born 1965 -1980. • Born after the Boomers into a rapidly changing social climate and economic recession, including Asian competition. • They grew up in two-career families with rising divorce rates, downsizing, the dawning of the high-tech age, and the information age. • On the job, they can be fiercely independent, like to be in control, and want fast feedback.

Generation Yers - 69. 7 million people to date • Born 1981 -2000. • Born of Boomer parents and early Xers into our current high-tech, neo-optimistic times. • Although the youngest workers, they represent the most technologically adept. They are fast learners and tend to be impatient. ( cf. Zemke, Raines and Filipczak, Generations at Work, 2000. )

How to Build Stronger Teams • • Value different views. Encourage active listening Decrease ambiguity among team members’ roles Support the sharing of expertise. Share recognition and appreciation. Value hard work. Build humor and fun into your time together.

Lifestyle Characteristics Traditionalists 1922 -45 Core Values • Respect for authority • Discipline Family • Traditional • Nuclear Education • A dream Communica- • Rotary phone tions/media • One on one • Write a memo Money matters • Put it away • Pay cash

Lifestyle Characteristics Traditionalists 1922 -45 Baby Boomers 1946 -64 Core Values • Respect for authority • Discipline • Optimism • involvement Family • Traditional • Nuclear disintegrating Education • A dream • A birthright Communica- • Rotary tions/media phone • Touch tone • Call anytime • One on one • Write a memo Money matters • Put it away • Pay cash • Buy now, pay later

Lifestyle Characteristics Traditionalists Baby Boomers 1922 -45 1946 -64 Core Values • Respect for authority • Discipline • Optimism • involvement • Skepticism • Fun • informal Family • Traditional • Nuclear • disintegrating • Latch key kids Education • A dream • A birthright • A way to get there • Touch tone • Call anytime • Cell phones • Call me only at work • Buy now, pay later • Cautious Communica- • Rotary tions/media phone • One on one Gen Xers 1965 -80 • Write a memo Money matters • Put it away • Pay cash • Save, save

Lifestyle Characteristics Traditionalists Baby 62 -85 yrs old Boomers 43 -61 yrs old Gen Xers Gen Yers 27 - 42 yrs old 6 -26 yrs old Core Values • Respect for authority • Discipline • Optimism • involvement • Skepticism • Fun • informal • Realism • Confidence • Extreme fun Family • Traditional • Nuclear • Disintegrating • Latch key kids • Merged families Education • A dream • A birthright • A way to get there • Incredible expense • Cell phones • Call me only at work • Internet • Pic phones • email Communica- • Rotary phone • Touch tone tions/media • One on one • Call anytime • Write a memo Money matters • Put it away • Pay cash • Buy now, pay • Cautious later • Save, save • Earn to spend

Workplace Characteristics Traditionalists 62 -85 yrs old Work Ethic & Values • Hard work Work is. . • An obligation Motivating messages • Your experience is expected Feedback & rewards • No news is good news • Satisfaction is a job well done • Respect authority Duty

Workplace Characteristics Traditionalists Baby Boomers 62 -85 yrs old 43 -61 yrs old • Workaholics • Crusading causes • ? ’s authority Work Ethic & Values • Hard work Work is. . • An obligation • An exciting adventure Motivating messages • Your experience is expected • You are valued • You are needed Feedback & rewards • No news is good • Money news • Title • Satisfaction is a • Don’t job well done • Respect authority Duty appreciate it

Workplace Characteristics Traditionalists Baby Gen Xers Boomers 62 -85 yrs old 43 -61 yrs old 27 - 42 yrs old • Workaholics • Crusading causes • ? ’s authority • Structure and direction • Self reliant • An obligation • An exciting adventure • A difficult challenge • A contract Motivating messages • Your experience is expected • You are valued • You are needed • Do it your way • Forget the rules Feedback & rewards • No news is good • Money news • Title • Satisfaction is a • Don’t job well done Work Ethic & Values • Hard work Work is. . • Respect authority Duty appreciate it • Freedom is a reward • How am I doing?

Workplace Characteristics Baby Gen Xers Gen Yers Boomers 62 -85 yrs old 43 -61 yrs old 27 - 42 yrs old 6 -26 yrs old Traditionalists • Workaholics • Crusading causes • ? authority • Structure and direction • Self reliant • What’s next • Multi-tasking • Entrepreneurial • An obligation • An exciting adventure • A difficult challenge • A contract • A means to an end • Fulfillment Motivating messages • Your experience is expected • You are valued • You are needed • Do it your way • Working with other bright • Forget the creative folks rules Feedback & rewards • No news is good • Money news • Title • Satisfaction is a • Don’t job well done Work Ethic & Values • Hard work Work is. . • Respect authority Duty appreciate it • Freedom is a reward • How am I doing? • Whenever I want it, at the push of a button • Meaningful work

What do you hear ? ? “We need to get the kiosk set up. ” Boomer to boomer: Boomers see it as an order to be done now. “This needs to be done. ” Boomer to Gen Xer: Xers hear it as an observation, not a command.

What Generations Want to Hear Traditionalists You are appreciated. Your grey hair is welcome and needed here. Tell us what worked in the past. Baby Boomers Your hard work is appreciated. We like your determination and go-getiveness.

Gen Xers You are so good at the computer. What crazy ideas do you have for us today? Gen Yers You are a life saver. Let’s get together and share some ideas later.

At the end of the day…

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