Multigenerational
Communication
WVASFAA Fall Conference 2010
Presenter: Damia Dobbs
West Virginia University
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Multigenerational Communication
A generation is defined by the common
attitudes, experiences and preferences
that develop in the context of social and
economic events of a defined period of
time.
Multigenerational Communication
Which of the following means the most to you?
Elvis joins the Army
 Jimi Hendrix dies
 MTV debuts
 Kurt Cobain dies
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Multigenerational Communication
The answer depends on your age- or more specifically,
on the generation that you belong to.
Elvis was drafted in 1959
 Jimi Hendrix died in 1970
 MTV debuted in 1981
 Kurt Cobain died in 1994
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Multigenerational Communication
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Why is it important to understand the
differences in generations?
Different viewpoints
Different ways of putting it into action
Experiences, ideas and values shared by
people of different generations makes for a
melting pot of work approaches and priorities.
Four Groups
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Traditionalists (1925- 1946)
Baby Boomers (1947- 1964)
Generation Xers (1965- 1976)
Millennials or Gen Y (1977- 2000)
Traditionalists
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Grew up with adversity
Learned values from extended family
Strong beliefs about hard work, ethics, right
and wrong
Massive layoffs in the 70s were very
detrimental
Women in the workplace
Baby Boomers
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Rules are not for us
Buy now, pay later
Have it all and be noticed for it
What we deserve
It’s about experience
Balance in a stress-filled schedule
Baby Boomers cont.
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“Suburbia” was created
Questioned policies, rules and practices
Protests of the 60’s
Creation of the middle class
Quest to remain young
Generation X
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Resourcefulness
Skepticism
Focus on quality
Impatience with “Boomer” mentality
Balance of life
Peer-focused
Generation X cont.
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Dual career couples
Product of technology
Employment is a contract, not a life style
Smallest generation in recent history
Millennials
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Speed/ Impatience
Expectancy of choice
Non-stop fun
Convenience
Skepticism of marketing in general
Unprecedented growth
Millennials cont.
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All conventions and individuals can be
challenged
One in three defined by the US government as
a minority
Navigate huge technology, but problems with
problem solving and taking risks
Traditionalist/Baby Boomer Combo
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Your job is what you are
I remember back when……
Good things come to those who wait
If your hands aren’t busy, your not working
We have a system for everything
Technology will never overcome hard work
Millenial / Gen X Combo
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A job is a contract, not a calling
Focus on the outcome rather than the task
Balance is more important than money
Management should be partners with
employees
Life is too short to “pay your dues”
Events and Experiences
Traditionalists- Loyal
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Great Depression
New Deal
World War II
Korean War
Events and Experiences
Boomers- Optimistic
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Civil Rights
Sexual Revolution
Cold War
Space Travel
Assassinations of JFK, Robert Kennedy and
MLK
Breakdown of Family
Events and Experience
Generation Xers- Skeptical
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Fall of Berlin Wall
Watergate
Women’s Liberation
Desert Storm
Energy Crisis
Events and Experiences
Millennials - Realistic
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School Shootings
Oklahoma City
Technology
Child Focused World
Clinton/ Lewinsky
Values
Traditionals:
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Believe in conformity, authority and rules
Believe in logic
Very defined sense of right and wrong
Loyalty and respect for authority
Values
Baby Boomers:
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Individual choice
Community involvement
Prosperity
Ownership
Self-actualizing
Health and wellness
Values
Generation X:
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Contribution
Feedback and recognition
Autonomy
Time with manager
Values
Millennials:
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Self-expression is more important than self-control
Marketing and branding self is important
Violence is an acceptable means of communication
Fear living poorly- this is related to lifestyle
enjoyment, not wealth
Music
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Millennials have always had CD players
Gen Xers had Walkmans
Baby Boomers remember 8 Tracks
Traditionalists listened to 45’s
Pop Culture
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George Foreman has always been a bbq grill
salesman for Millennials
Cher was an actress for Gen Xers
Cher was a TV star for Baby Boomers
Cher was a singer for Traditionalists
Space Travel
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For Millennials, the US and the Soviets have
always been partners in space
Gen Xers saw the beginning of shuttles
Baby Boomers saw man on the moon
Traditionalist remember John Glenn
Television
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FOX has always been a television network
choice for Millennials
Gen Xers enjoyed the benefits of cable
Baby Boomers enjoyed the Big Three
networks ABC, NBC and CBS
Traditionalists enjoyed actually having TV
Style
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Millenial women have always had tattoos
Gen Xers remembers when MTV actually
played music videos.
Baby Boomers will remember Woodstock and
some of them won’t
Traditionals survived the Great Depression
“The Family Car”
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Millennials grew up in minivans
Gen Xers and Baby Boomers actually drove to
school
Traditionals remember their station wagon
fondly
Multigenerational Work Place
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It is important to consider generational
differences when dealing with the workplace
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Understanding where the individual is coming
from will aid in targeting your mentoring style
to bring out their strengths and make the most
progress
Work Styles
Traditional:
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Consistency and uniformity
Seek out technological advances
Past-oriented
Command and control leadership reminiscent of
military operations
Prefer hierarchical organizational structures and will
continue to view horizontal structure in a hierarchical
way
Work Styles
Baby Boomer:
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Confidence in tasks
Emphasize team building
Seek collaborative, group decision making
Avoid conflict
Work Styles
Generation X:
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High-quality end results
Productivity
Balance between work and life- work to live not live to work
Flexible work hours/ job sharing appealing
Free agents
See self as a marketing commodity
Comfortable with authority but not impressed with titles
Work Styles
Millennials:
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Want to know how what they do fits into the big picture and
need to understand how everything fits together- want to effect
change and make an impact
View their work as an expression of themselves; not as a
definition of themselves
Exceptional multi-taskers- need more than activity happening
at a time
Seek active versus passive involvement
Less likely to seek managerial or team leadership positions
that would compromise life outside of work
Work Styles
Millennials:
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Seek flexibility in work hours and dress code
Seek a relaxed work environment- bright colors, open seating,
personal touches
Expect corporate social responsibility and will not work for or
purchase products from organizations that are not socially
responsible
Seek work in teams
Seek continuing learning and will take advantage of training
made available to them
Want everything instantly—everything now
Attributes
Traditional:
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Disciplined
View an understanding of history as a way to plan for
the future
Dislike conflict
Detail oriented
Attributes
Baby Boomer:
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Adaptive
Goal-oriented
Focus on individual choices and freedom
Adaptive to a diverse workplace
Positive attitude
Attributes
Generation X:
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Adaptability
Independence
Attributes
Millenial:
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Adapt rapidly
Crave change and challenge
Create constantly
Exceptionally resilient
Committed and loyal when dedicated to an idea, cause or
product
Accept others of diverse backgrounds easily and openly
Global perspective
Career Goals
Traditionalists: “Build a Legacy”
Baby Boomers: “ Build a Stellar Career”
Generation Xers: “Build a Portable Career”
Millennials: “Build Parallel Careers”
Rewards
Traditionalists: “Satisfaction of a job well done”
Baby Boomers: “Money, title, recognition, the corner office”
Generation Xers: “Freedom is the ultimate reward”
Millennials: “Work that has meaning for me”
Job Changing
Traditional: “Job changing carries a stigma”
Baby Boomer: “Job changing puts you behind”
Generation X: “Job changing is necessary”
Millennial: “Job changing is part of my daily routine”
Training
Traditional: “I learned the hard way; you can too!”
Baby Boomer: “Train them too much and they will leave”
Generation X: “The more they learn, the more they stay”
Millennials: “Continuous learning is a way of life”
Multigenerational Communication
Keeping these generational differences in mind
can make dealing with co-workers, as well as
students less of a challenge.
Remember to discard biases and preconceived
notions and enjoy the generational differences
Credits
Works Cited
2010 NASFAA National Conference. PPT.
Managing a Multigenerational Workforce. PPT.
"Meet The Multigenerational Workforce." ValueOptions®, a Leading National Managed Care
Company, Specializes in Management for All Behavioral Health Issues. Web. 08 Sept. 2010.
<http://www.valueoptions.com/spotlight_YIW/workforce.htm>.
Thielfoldt, Diane, and Devon Scheef. "Generation X and The Millennials: What You Need to
Know About Mentoring the New Generations." American Bar Association - Defending
Liberty, Pursuing Justice. Aug. 2004. Web. 01 Sept. 2010.
<http://www.abanet.org/lpm/lpt/articles/mgt08044.html>.