With five generations meeting in the workplace for the first time in history, we are challenged daily to understand the attitudes, values, and demands of our coworkers, customers, and the public in general. Understanding the similarities and differences between the generations, including distinct preferences for how to communicate effectively, is key to successful relationships.

1. Navigating Generational
Differences in the
Professional Environment
Presented by:
Matthew Hansen, Cynthia Voth and
Meghan Granito
Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP

2. Golden Rules

3. Golden Rules
Do unto others…

4. Golden Rules
Know your audience

5. The New Golden (or “Platinum”) Rule
Treat others as they want to be treated

6. Multiple Generations at Work
 Traditionalists
 Boomers
 Gen X
 Gen Y/Millennials
 Coming Soon: Gen Z

7. Meet Bill

8. Traditionalists
 Born before 1946
 Population: 55 million
 Currently 70+ years
 “Silent” generation
 Majority are retired
 Largest voting population

9. Meet Susan

10. Baby Boomers
 Born 1946 - 1964
 Population: 76 million
 Currently 52 to 69 years old
 Largest generation in the workplace
 Coined the term “workaholic”
 Single largest economic group

11. Meet Matt

12. Gen X
 Born 1964 - 1980
 Population: 50 million
 Currently 35 to 51 years old
 “Carpe diem” attitude
 High divorce rate
 Single-parent families

13. Meet…well, the millennials.

14. Gen Y/Millennials
 Born: 1980 – 1997
 Population: 80 million
 Currently 18 to 35 years old
 “Entitlement” generation
 Technology-savvy
 More ethnically and racially diverse than older
generations

15. Meet
Aidan

16. Gen Z
 Born after 1997
 Population: 23 million…and growing
 “Digital Natives”
 Born during major fertility boom in the US

17. Generations in the Workplace - 1995
Silent
2%
Traditionalists
18%
Boomers
49%
Gen X, 31%
Silent Traditionalists Boomers Gen X

18. Generations in the Workplace - 2015
Traditionalists
2%
Boomers
29%
Gen X
34%
Millennials
34%
Traditionalists Boomers Gen X Millennials

19. Generations in the Workplace - 2025
Boomers
8%
Gen X
28%
Millennials
33%
Gen Z
31%
Boomers Gen X Millennials Gen Z

20. Generations in the Workplace
1995 2015 2025
Silent
2%
Traditionalists
18%
Boomers
49%
Gen X, 31%
Traditionalists
2%
Boomers
29%
Gen X
34%
Millennials
34%
Boomers
8%
Gen X
28%
Millennials
33%
Gen Z
31%

21. What Frames a Generation?
 Please share two to three things you remember
from your youth that had an influence on your
generation?

22. Where Do Generational Personalities
Come From?
 Peer Influences
 Parenting
 Politics
 Culture
 Media
 Education/Teachers
 World events
 Religious figures
 War & Peace
 Family
 Technology
 Values

23. A Snapshot of Differences
Traditionalists Boomers Gen X Millennials
Education is…
A dream A birthright A way to get
there
An incredible
expense
Work Ethic
Dedicated, pay
your dues
Driven,
workaholic
Balance, work
smarter with
greater output
Ambitious,
done at 5:00,
entrepreneurial
Technology Adapted Acquired Assimilated Integral
Preferred Work
Environment
Conservative,
hierarchal, top-
down
management
“Flat”
hierarchy,
democratic,
warm and
friendly
Functional,
positive,
efficient, fast-
paced and
flexible
Collaborative,
creative,
diverse,
continuous
feedback
Interactive
Style
One-on-one Team player –
lots of
meetings
Entrepreneur,
cut to the
chase
Collaborative ,
lots of
feedback

24. A Snapshot of Differences
Traditionalists Boomers Gen X Millennials
Work Assets
Experience,
dependable,
hardworking,
thorough
Team players,
see the big
picture, will
go the extra
mile, hard
work
Adapts well to
change, direct
communicators
, good task
managers, tech
savvy, want
feedback
Collaborators,
goal-oriented,
highly
educated, fast
multitaskers,
optimistic, tech
savvy
Work
Challenges
Don’t adapt well
to change,
hierarchical,
avoid conflict,
not good with
ambiguity or
grey areas
Dislike
conflict and
change,
expect
everyone to
be a
workaholic
Skeptical,
dislike for
authority, don’t
like rigid work
environments,
impatient
Distaste for
menial work,
need structure,
lack
experience,

25. A Snapshot of Differences
Traditionalists Boomers Gen X Millennials
Means of
Communication
Rotary phones
One-on-one
Write a memo
Touch-tone
phones
Call me
anytime
Cell phones
Call me only at
work
Email
Email
Smart phones,
but…
Text or IM me
Communication Discrete Diplomatic Blunt/Direct Polite
Messages that
Motivate
Your experience
is respected
You are
valued and
needed
Do it your way
and forget the
rules
You will work
with bright and
creative people
Work-Family
Balance
Never the two
shall meet, but
now interested
in creating
balance in lives
A history of
living to work,
but now
interested in
flexibility
Balance is
important,
Work to live,
not live to work
Balance is
important,
Lifestyle is more
important than
upward mobility

26. Examples in the ROW Profession
 In your small groups, share one example of a
generational challenge or success you’ve
encountered in the ROW field

27. Win the Generation Game

28. Win the Generation Game
 Generational differences, while sometimes
challenging, are extremely valuable in the workplace
• Tailor your message to be heard most effectively
• Increase productivity with diverse skill sets
• Technology
• Tradition
• Mentoring
 For real success in the multigenerational workplace,
understanding, flexibility and openness from every
age group is critical

29. Thank You
Matthew Hansen
matthew.hansen@millernash.com | 206.777.7502
Cynthia Voth
cynthia.voth@millernash.com | 206.777.7558
Meghan Granito
meghan.granito@millernash.com | 206.777.7412

30. Sources
 Forbes
• Working with Five Generations in the Workplace
 Harvard Business Review
• Managing People from 5 Generations
 Wall Street Journal
• How to Manage Different Generations
 West Midland Family Center
• Generational Differences Chart

31. Sources
 Montana Office of Public Information
• Understanding Generational Differences
 American Management Association
• Leading Four Generations at Work
 Beacon Health Options