Understanding Generational Communications - a guide to bridging the generational divide.

1. Bridging The Age Gap, Understanding
Generational Communications
By Rebecca Gordon, Owner, Rebecca Gordon Group
@rgordongroup facebook.com/RebeccaGordonGroup
www.rebeccagordongroup.org

2. Good Morning!
Learning
Communications
the hard way……
@rgordongroup facebook.com/RebeccaGordonGroup www.rebeccagordongroup.org

3. What is Communications?
The act of transferring information from one person to another.
Verbal
Non-Verbal
Written
Visual
@rgordongroup facebook.com/RebeccaGordonGroup www.rebeccagordongroup.org

4. “The single biggest problem in
communication is the illusion that it
has taken place”
George Bernard Shaw

5. Rebecca’s Easy Theory – Path to
Communications
AIDA
Attention
Attention
Interest
Interest
Desire
Desire
Action
Action
@rgordongroup facebook.com/RebeccaGordonGroup www.rebeccagordongroup.org

6. The Single Best Way To
Communicate?
Identify What
Motivates
People
@rgordongroup facebook.com/RebeccaGordonGroup www.rebeccagordongroup.org

7. Understanding Generations
Helps Identify Motivations
The events and conditions each of us
experience during our formative years
help define who we are and how we view
the world.
The generation we grow up in is just
one of the influences on adult behavior.
@rgordongroup facebook.com/RebeccaGordonGroup www.rebeccagordongroup.org

8. Why Generations?
Rapidly Changing Demographic
Understand Impact in a Diverse
Educational Environment
@rgordongroup facebook.com/RebeccaGordonGroup www.rebeccagordongroup.org

9. Diversity….a Broad Scope
 Diversity is sometimes defined as differences
between individuals
 Part of our focus in a given situation or
interaction depends on who we are
 Generational differences are one aspect of
diversity

10. What is a Generation?
• A generation is a subdivision of population
grouped in time intervals of approximately 18-
20 years.
• Each generation‟s attitudes and beliefs are
formed by the cultural shifts, influential public
personalities, technological changes, and the
major events during their formative years.

11. “Each generation imagines
itself to be more intelligent
than the one that went
before it, and wiser than the
one that comes after it.”
- George Orwell
@rgordongroup facebook.com/RebeccaGordonGroup www.rebeccagordongroup.org

12. Why is this important?
Do you remember when Kennedy died?

13. Technology
1. “Anything that is in the world when you were born
is normal and ordinary and is just a natural way the
world works.”
2. “Anything that is invented between the time when
you are 15 to 35 is new, revolutionary and exciting,
and you can possibly get a career in it.”
3. „Anything invented after you are 35 is against the
natural order of things.”
*According to the late author Douglas Adams
(The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.)

14. In America Today
This is the first time in history that we
have four generations in the workplace.
Traditionalists
Baby Boomers
Gen Xer‟s
Gen Yer‟s
@rgordongroup facebook.com/RebeccaGordonGroup www.rebeccagordongroup.org

15. Generations
 Matures Born Prior to 1946
 Baby Boomers Born 1946-1964
 Generation X Born 1965-1980
 Nexters Born 1981-1995

16. Where are you on the timeline?
1922-1945 1946-1964 1965-1980 1981-2000
Veterans, Silent, Baby Boomers Generation X Generation Y, Gen Yers,
Traditionalists Millennials, Echo Boomers
Cupsers
Ages 66 - 89 Ages 47 - 65 Ages 31 - 46 Ages 11 - 30

17. Silent Generation
Matures
Veterans
Traditionalists

18. Traditionalist’s Major
Influences
• Affected by the Great Depression
• Franklin Roosevelt (New Deal)
• Introduction of TV and TV dinners
• World War II, Korean War
• Many are Veterans – GI Bill
• Commercial Air Travel
• Civic Organizations, Lodges
• Big Band Era, Jazz

19. Traditionalists
Values
 Hard Work
 Frugal
 Dedication & Sacrifice
 Honor / Respect for Rules
 Sacrifice

20. Traditionalist
Leadership Style Direct, Command & Control
Communications Formal/memo, One on One
Interaction Individualist
Other No news is good news
Experience is respected
Education for many was a dream
Rotary Phones
Money—save and pay with cash
Family is traditional

21. Other Values
Conservative somewhat dressy clothing
Neatly trimmed hair
Owns American Golf Clubs
Memories of Marx Brothers, Sinatra, Big Bands, Big Cars
TV included Ed Sullivan, Bonanza, Father Knows Best
Sex on the honeymoon
Heroes include FDR, Superman, Babe Ruth, Dimaggio, Patton, MacArthur
Memorabilia include Juke Boxes, Blondie, Lone Ranger, Charlie McCarthy

22. Where are you on the timeline?
1922-1945 1946-1964 1965-1980 1981-2000
Veterans, Silent, Baby Boomers Generation X Generation Y, Gen Yers,
Traditionalists Millennials, Echo Boomers
Cupsers
Ages 66 - 89 Ages 47 - 65 Ages 31 - 46 Ages 11 - 30

23. Baby Boomer’s Major Influences
• Civil Rights Movements
• Birth Control
• Moon Landing
• Cuban Missile Crisis
• Assassination of Kennedys and MLK
• Inflation
• Nixon and the Watergate Scandal
• Vietnam
• Height of the Cold War
• Women in the work place
• Divorce
• Rock and Roll - Woodstock

24. Baby Boomers
Events & Experiences
 Civil Rights
 Space Travel
 Cold War
 Sexual Revolution
 Assassinations

25. Baby Boomer
Values
 Optimism
 Team Orientation
 Personal Gratification
 Involvement
 Personal Growth

26. Baby Boomer
Leadership Style Consensual, Collegial
Interaction Team player, love to have meetings!
Communication In person
Other Love title recognition
Money
You are valued and needed
Education is a birthright
Family begins disintegrating
Buy now, pay later
Affluent

27. Other Baby Boomer
May wear designer glasses, whatever is trendy
Longer Hair
Designer Suites
Memories of Smothers Brothers, Beatles, Lassie, Drive In, Mickey
Mouse Club
TV includes Laugh In, Westerns, Lassie, Mod
Squad, Carson, MASH, Sunday Night Disney
Sex in the back seat
Heroes include John and Jackie Kennedy, MLK, John Glenn, John
Lennon, Gandi
Memorabilia includes fallout shelters, TV dinners, Hula
Hoops, Peace Sign, Poodle Skirts,

28. Where are you on the timeline?
1922-1945 1946-1964 1965-1980 1981-2000
Veterans, Silent, Baby Boomers Generation X Generation Y, Gen Yers,
Traditionalists Millennials, Echo Boomers
Cupsers
Ages 66 - 89 Ages 47 - 65 Ages 31 - 46 Ages 11 - 30

29. Gen Xer’s Major Influences
• Challenger Disaster
• Berlin Wall
• Desert Storm
• Star Wars - Reagan
• Latch Key Kids and Daycare kids
• Skyrocketing Divorce Rate
• Scandals
• Personal Computers
• Cable TV
• HIV
• Video Games

30. Generation X
Events & Experiences
 Fall of Berlin Wall
 Women’s Liberation
 Watergate
 Energy Crisis
 Cynical

31. Generation X
Values
 Diversity
 Techno Literacy
 Fun & Informality
 Self Reliance/Autonomy
 Pragmatism

32. Generation X
Leadership Style Everyone is the same
Challenge others
Interaction Entrepreneur
Communications Direct
Immediate
Other Freedom is the best reward
Latch Key Kids
Money cautious….save-save
Education is a way to get there
Sorry to interrupt,but how am I doing?

33. Other Generational X’ers
May wear functional clothing, have tattoos, any style hair, naval
or nose rings
Memories of Tonya Harding, Snoop Doggy Dog, Beavis &
Butthead, Video Games
TV includes SNL, Friends, 90210, Cosby,
Sex “On the Internet”
Heroes include Michael Jordan, Ron Reagan, Magic Johnson
Memorabilia include Brady Bunch, Pet Rocks, Platform shoes,
ET, The Simpsons, Sesame Street, Cabbage Patch Dolls

34. Where are you on the timeline?
1922-1945 1946-1964 1965-1980 1981-2000
Veterans, Silent, Baby Boomers Generation X Generation Y, Gen Yers,
Traditionalists Millennials, Echo Boomers
Cupsers
Ages 66 - 89 Ages 47 - 65 Ages 31 - 46 Ages 11 - 30

35. Gen Yer’s
• Oklahoma City Bombing
• High School Shootings
• Era of Natural Disasters
• Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan
• 9/11 Terrorism
• Reality TV
• Computer/net/cell - instant information
• Lowest Parent/Child ratio in U.S. History
• Helicopter parents and friend parents
• Have been protected
• Generation of self esteem

36. Unique characteristics of the Gen Y
• 1 out of 4 lives in a single parent house-hold,
3 out of 4 with working moms.
• The child is the center of the household
• Loose family structure, Merged families
• Coddled and protected kids
• Value individuality yet are immersed in a
global environment
• Extremely diverse segment of the population
(est. 50% are immigrants or children of
immigrants.)
•Surrounded by digital media.

37. “YES, MOTHER. I TOLD YOU, I’M DOING FINE ON MY OWN AT COLLEGE… HEY, COULD YOU LOG
ON AND FIND MY SCHEDULE, ORDER MY BOOKS AND CALL ME WHEN IT’S TIME FOR
CLASS?”
The generation of the helicopter parents…

38. Nexter
Values
 Optimistic
 Civic Duty
 Confident
 Achievement Oriented
 Respect for Diversity
 Social

39. Nexter
Leadership Style Interaction Communications
TBD Participative E-mail
Voice mail
Cell phone
texters
Other
Meaningful work
Whenever I want it I can push & click
Will work with other bright & creative people
Merged families
Earn money to spend it

40. Bottom Line
What Motivates Our Generations?
Traditionalists – Build A Legacy
Boomers – Build A Stellar Career
Generation Xers – Build A Portable Career
Millennial – Build Parallel Careers
@rgordongroup facebook.com/RebeccaGordonGroup www.rebeccagordongroup.org

41. Questions?
@rgordongroup facebook.com/RebeccaGordonGroup www.rebeccagordongroup.org

42. Bridging The Age Gap, Understanding
Generational Communications
By Rebecca Gordon, Owner, Rebecca Gordon Group
@rgordongroup facebook.com/RebeccaGordonGroup
www.rebeccagordongroup.org