Talking 'bout My Generation:
Communication Across Generations
Talking 'bout My Generation:
Communication Across Generations
Participant Guide
Amy S. Tolbert, Ph.D., CSP
ECCO International
Principal
http://ECCOInternational.com
651.636.0838
© 2010 ECCO International
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Talking 'bout My Generation:
Communication Across Generations
AMY S. TOLBERT, Ph.D., CSP
Amy S. Tolbert, Ph.D., CSP develops multicultural organizations and individuals by bringing you
cutting-edge topics, such as multicultural and diversity initiatives, leadership competency
development, managing to style, and creating breakthrough teams. She is
principal of Effecting Creative Change in Organizations (ECCO International),
which specializes in increasing individuals’ productivity and organizations’
profitability through e-learning, technology and facilitated learning.
Addressing diversity and multicultural issues, cross-cultural training, and
managing a diverse workforce, Dr. Tolbert has researched multicultural
competencies needed for today’s global organization. She has authored a
book, Reversing the Ostrich Approach to Diversity: Pulling your head out of
the sand, a timely answer to the renewed urgency for actionable diversity
information. The tool presents five simple but key concepts for diversity
awareness. The Ostrich book has been translated and distributed in Saudi Arabia and China. In
other arenas, she is the co-author of The Princess Principle: Women helping women discover
their royal spirit.
She has also co-authored and presented the Discovering Diversity Profile, a popular selfassessment tool, at the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) International
Conference and the Inscape (formerly Carlson Learning) Publishing International Conference. She
developed the Integrating Diversity Profile, which assesses key areas for organizations to focus
their time and energies regarding diversity efforts. As a result, she is a Certified Speaking
Professional (CSP) with the National Speakers Association (NSA) as well. The CSP is the speaking
profession’s international measure of experience and skill. Fewer than 10 percent of the
speakers who belong to the International Federation for Professional Speakers hold this
professional designation. She currently is serving as past-president on the board for the NSA-MN
chapter and also serves on the hrConnection Board of Directors.
As a best-selling contributing author with HRD Press ( 50 Activities for Achieving Excellent
Customer Service) and published by the American Management Association (AMACOM), Dr.
Tolbert consults and trains nationally in the areas of multicultural competency development,
increasing influence in organizations, managing within a diverse workforce, motivation and
leadership skills. Her diverse client list includes 3M, Best Buy, Mayo Clinic, US Bank, BlackBox,
United Way, Ford Motor Company, Becton-Dickinson and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and
Research Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
As a Fellow, Carlson Executive Development Center, Carlson School of Management, University of
Minnesota, Dr. Tolbert earned her doctorate in Human Resource Development, focusing on
international/cross-cultural and diversity education/training, from the University of Minnesota.
She continues to support her alma mater by serving as adjunct faculty for several annual
programs at the Carlson Executive Development Center and presents in the PT-MBA and
Executive-MBA programs.
© 2010 ECCO International
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Talking 'bout My Generation:
Communication Across Generations
THE GENERATIONS AT WORK
GENERATION
EVENTS
About 75 million





10% of workforce

TRADITIONALISTS
Born
1925-1945

The Great Depression
World War II
Korean War
Atomic bomb
Big Band music, Swing,
Jitterbug
First Mickey Mouse comic
strip
In 1930:
 U.S. census:
122,775,046
VALUES







BEHAVIORS
Sacrifice
Hard work
Conformity
Delayed reward
Duty before pleasure
Adherence to rules
Work ethic: dedicated
aka Veterans, Matures, Silent, Greatest
Generation
Based on its values:
3 strengths of this generation:
A limitation of this generation:
Talking ‘bout My Generation:
© 2010 ECCO International
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Talking 'bout My Generation:
Communication Across Generations
THE GENERATIONS AT WORK
GENERATION
BABY BOOMERS
Born
1946-1964
About 80 million
45% of workforce
EVENTS









Based on its values:
Threat of nuclear war
Communism
Beginning of NASA and
space exploration
Television (black and
white, color TV)
Viet Nam War
Watergate
Rock’n’roll music, Elvis,
Beatles
Civil rights, women’s rights
In 1950:
o Life expectancy:
68.2 years
o U.S. census:
150,520,798
3 strengths of this generation:
VALUES






BEHAVIORS
Teamwork
Health and wellness
Personal growth
Work
Involvement
Work ethic: driven
A limitation of this generation:
Talking ‘bout My Generation:
© 2010 ECCO International
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Talking 'bout My Generation:
Communication Across Generations
THE GENERATIONS AT WORK
GENERATION

GEN X
Born
EVENTS
1965-1981
About 46 million


30% of workforce


Based on its values:
Continued space
exploration
First computer chess
tournament
In 1970:
o Life expectancy:
70.8 years
o U.S. census:
203,302,031
U.S. boycott of 1980
Olympics in Moscow
Worldwide eradication of
smallpox
3 strengths of this generation:
VALUES









BEHAVIORS
Diversity
Informality
Fun
Global thinking
Technological literacy
Pragmatism
Self-reliance
Want exciting and
challenging work
Work ethic: balance
A limitation of this generation:
Talking ‘bout My Generation:
© 2010 ECCO International
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Talking 'bout My Generation:
Communication Across Generations
THE GENERATIONS AT WORK
GENERATION

GEN Y
Born
EVENTS
1982- 1998/2000
About 76 million



15% of workforce


Challenger space shuttle
disaster
Berlin wall came down
9/11 terrorist attacks
In 1990:
o Life expectancy:
75.4 years
o U.S. census:
248,709,873*
Iraq War
1990s economic boom,
dot-com bubble
VALUES




BEHAVIORS
Hopeful
Want to work with bright,
creative people
Want to make an impact
on the organization
Work ethic: determined
* Estimated 2008 U.S. census is
304,059,724
aka Millenials, Nexters, Baby Busters,
Echo Boomers
Based on its values:
3 strengths of this generation:
A limitation of this generation:
Talking ‘bout My Generation:
© 2010 ECCO International
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Talking 'bout My Generation:
Communication Across Generations
GENERATIONAL COMPARISONS
AROUND
CAREER GOALS
Traditionalists
Baby Boomers
Gen Xers
Generation Y
Build a legacy
Build a stellar career
Build a portable career
Build parallel careers
AROUND
REWARDS
Traditionalists
Baby Boomers
Gen Xers
Generation Y
The satisfaction of job well done
Money, title/recognition, corner office
Freedom is the ultimate reward
Work that has meaning for me
Traditionalists
Baby Boomers
Gen Xers
Generation Y
Support me in shifting the balance
Help me balance everyone else and find
meaning myself
Give me balance now, not when I’m 65
Work isn’t everything; I need flexibility
AROUND
RETIREMENT
Traditionalists
Baby Boomers
Gen Xers
Generation Y
Reward
Retool
Renew
Recycle
AROUND JOB
CHANGING
Traditionalists
Baby Boomers
Gen Xers
Generation Y
Job changing carries a stigma
Job changing puts you behind
Job changing is necessary
Job changing is part of my daily routine
Traditionalists
Baby Boomers
No news is good news
Feedback once a year, with lots of
documentation
Sorry to interrupt but how am I doing
Feedback whenever I want it at the push
of a button
AROUND
WORK/LIFE
BALANCE
AROUND
FEEDBACK
AROUND
TRAINING
Gen Xers
Generation Y
Traditionalists
Baby Boomers
Gen Xers
Generation Y
I learned it the hard way, you can, too
Train ‘em too much and they’ll leave
The more they learn, the more they stay
Continuous learning is way of life
Lancaster, L. & Stillman, D. (2002) When Generations Collide. New York: Harper Collins.
© 2010 ECCO International
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Talking 'bout My Generation:
Communication Across Generations
COMMON GROUND FOR ALL GENERATIONS
Flexibility
Leadership that coaches vs. tells
Opportunity to grow & develop
Being respected & valued
What are some specific things you can do to encourage interaction and to help people at work
feel engaged?
GENERATION
© 2010 ECCO International
ENGAGEMENT/INTERACTION STRATEGIES
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