Presented at Events by Design Small Staff Association Superheroes Workshop, October 16 2012

1. Bridging Generational Gaps in the Workplace
Shira Harrington
Founder & President, Purposeful Hire

2. T HE N EXT G ENERATION

3. S OME F RIENDLY D ISCLAIMERS
 Create awareness not stereotypes
 People are individuals -- diverse characteristics
 Generational diversity affected by:
 Parental upbringing and socialization
 Socio-economic demographics

10. K IDS T HESE D AYS !
“Children today are tyrants.
They contradict their parents,
gobble their food and tyrannize
their teachers.”
Socrates (470-399 B.C.)

11. T RADITIONALISTS
 View of Work:
 Work is an obligation, not career fulfillment
 Adherence to rule / policies / structure
 Knowledge is power / need-to-know basis
 Command and control; military style

12. B ABY B OOMERS
• View of Work:
 Success = face time and “playing nice”
 Work is my identity
 Tend to be workaholics
 Retirement or reinvention?
• Personal Lives
 “Sandwich Generation”, Financial crises, debt
reduction, “Soccer Mom” stress

13. G ENERATION X
 View of Work:
 Independent, project focused
 Respect is earned
 Don’t micromanage me!
 Won’t sacrifice work-life balance for career
 Waiting for Boomers to retire

14. M ILLENNIALS
 View of Work:
 View supervisors like their parents
 Want to be kept in the loop
 Work hard / play hard
 Demand options
 Want latest technology
 Demand immediate (hopefully positive) feedback

15. D ECLINE OF E MPLOYER L OYALTY
Who are YOU loyal to?
 Older generations loyal to employer
 1990s recession broke loyalty contract
 Millennials tuned to station WIIFM
 Employees are paid volunteers
 Focused on career advancement

16. S UCCESSION P LANNING /
M ENTORING
Where is the next generation of employees?
 Millions of Boomers eligible to retire
 Shortage of Gen-Xers to backfill leadership
 Mentoring is motivator for Millennials
 Recruit your Veterans / Older Boomers

17. D ESIRE FOR W ORK - LIFE B ALANCE
Every generation needs it!
 Veterans are transitioning out of the workforce
 Baby Boomers are “sandwiched”
 Gen-X “works to live”
 Millennials don’t know any other way!
 Helps with stress / burnout

18. TECHNOLOGY
Older workers:
 Forced to learn it
 Often resistant and less proficient
Younger workers:
 Don’t know a world without
 Productivity tool, not a perk
 Receptive to reverse mentoring

19. C OMMUNICATION
Older workers: face-to-face or phone
More formal, deferential to
authority
Younger workers: email, texting, FB
Less formal, casual relationship to
authority

20. E NGAGING THE G ENERATIONS
 Manage Using The “Platinum Rule”
 Foster a Culture of Innovation
 Be Fair…not necessarily Equal
 Offer Mentoring and Coaching
 Create Flexible Scheduling Options
 Keep Pace with Technology
 Be Open to Change

21. TOOLS OF E NGAGEMENT
 Hire for Career Motivators
 Manage Expectations…Early!
 Solicit Performance Conversations
 Keep Employees In the Loop
 Take Regular Pulse Checks
 Create Opportunities for Team Building
 Mentor for Career Advancement

22. shira@purposefulhire.com
www.purposefulhire.com