Motivating a MultiGenerational Workforce:
Tapping into your Style
Summer Staff Meeting
June 26, 2014
Developed and Facilitated by: Jan Dwyer Bang, MBA, CSP
After attending this session, you will be able to:
• Identify your own style of communication
• Discover practical ways to increase your
communication as a team leader
• Understand events & experiences that shape
different generations
• Map out action steps that will help you
connect with & motivate different styles &
generations
Considerations
 Goals
 Fears
 Motivations
 Ways of
seeing
the world
PPT 9-6
Common Language
Non-threatening
Non-judgmental
Safe for everyone to use
Administering the DiSC
Preview Assessment
 It is not a test.
 You cannot pass or fail.
 There are no right or wrong
answers.
 There is no one style that is better
than another.
Purpose
•DiSC Communication Styles helps
us identify the different ways we
behave so we can:
• Minimize potential
conflict with others
• Maximize our
potential for success
Dominance
• Results
• Solves problems
• Direct communication
Get ‘er Done!
influence
• Engaged
• Collaboration
• Persuasive
Let’s have fun!
Steadiness
• Stability
• Teamwork
• Listening
Why don’t we all get along
and keep things the same?
Conscientiousness
• Quality
• High standards
• Diplomatic
Do it right the first time
Active
Thoughtful
Questioning
Accepting
Active
Questioning
Accepting
Thoughtful
PPT 4-2
Active
Dominance
Influence
Questioning
Conscientiousness
PPT 4-2
Accepting
Thoughtful
Steadiness
Active
Dominance
Direct, results-oriented
Influence
Expressive, Relationship
Questioning
Analytical, Deliberate
Conscientiousness
PPT 4-2
Accepting
Supportive, Cooperative
Thoughtful
Steadiness
Strengths Are…
Extensions of
our natural
behavior.
PPT 5-5
D
Dominance
C
Conscientiousness
i
Influence
S
Steadiness
Introduction to People Reading
Remember That…
There are no good or bad styles.
There is no best style.
All styles have strengths and limitations.
All styles can be more or less effective.
People are a mixture of styles.
PPT 7-3
Observable Behavior
• Body Language
• Posture
• Use of hands
• Facial expressions
• Tone
• Pace
• Inflection
• Volume
• Words
Step 1:
Recognize
People have different
communication styles.
PPT 9-9
Step 1:
Recognize
Step 2:
Understand
People have different
Goals
Fears
Motivations
Ways of seeing the world
PPT 9-10
Step 1:
Recognize
Step 2:
Understand
Develop productive
interactions by adapting
as needed.
PPT 9-11
Step 3:
Adapt
DD
i
C
C
S
S
Conflict and Stress
PPT 6-2
Behaviors in the extreme
In normal
situations
OH-23
Under
pressure
Extreme
behavior
D
In charge,
decisive
Demands
Leaves
i
Persuasive,
enthusiastic
Oversells
Gives up
Pouts
S
Supportive,
friendly
Gives in
Acts hurt
Accuses
C
Careful Quiet
Is indecisive
Gets emotional
Attacks
Tends to:
ASSERT
D
i
C
S
Tends to:
SUPPRESS
PPT 6-16
Responses to Conflict
Focuses on:
D
i
LOGIC
FEELINGS
C
PPT 6-17
Focuses on:
S
DEMAND
Goal: Victory
Tends to:
ASSERT
Goal: Acknowledgement
Focuses on:
Focuses on:
LOGIC
FEELINGS
WITHDRAW
Tends to:
Goal: Justice
SUPPRESS
PPT 6-17
EXPRESS
COMPLY
Goal: Harmony
Enhancing Team Effectiveness
What is your communication style?
 What happens when you are stressed?
 Identify what you need from the team to be effective.
 As a team, talk about how you can work together.
OH-23
Is there a predominant style that describes
your team?
D culture – quick decisions, direct answers and a
competitive atmosphere. Interpersonal communication
may suffer in this environment and those less assertive
may feel overwhelmed
i culture – energetic atmosphere, a focus on
innovation, and lots of time spent in meetings or social
gatherings. Those less people-oriented may be
frustrated by the focus on group activities and poor
planning and lack of details may prevent an I culture
from implementing any ideas
OH-23
Is there a predominant style that describes
your team?
S culture – stability, predictability, and friendliness.
Values strong teamwork and a management work-life
balance. Stagnation may be a risk in this culture and
efforts to move the organization forward may met with
hesitation
C culture – quality, accuracy, and order. Cynical
toward new ideas and trust usually has to be earned.
The group may miss opportunities because it spends so
much time analyzing and may resist growth for fear of
lowering its standards
OH-23
GENERATIONS
TRADITIONLISTS
The difficult we do at
once; the impossible
takes a bit longer.
- Motto of the Seabees
BABY BOOMERS
“Boomers are now in their
‘Grand Tweens,’ shaping a new
stage of life fueled by a sense
of purpose.”
-Gail Sheehy
GEN X’ers
“It’s no wonder Xers are angstridden and rudderless. They feel
America’s greatness has passed.
They got to the cocktail party
twenty minutes late and all that’s
left are those little wieners and a
half-empty bottle of Zima.”
- Dennis Miller
MILLENNIALS
“I know we were supposed to bequeath
to the next generation a world better
than the one we were handed. But we
broke it. It just kinda got away from us.
But here’s the good news. You fix this
thing – and I believe you can – you’re
the next great generation.”
-Jon Stewart
Generation Timeline
from Mixing and Managing Four Generations of Employees
Greg Hammill
Veterans,
Silent's,
Traditionalists
Baby Boomers
•Hard work
•Workaholics
•Duty before fun •Work efficiently
•Adhere to rules •Desire quality
•Question
authority
“Your
experience is
“You are valued,
respected”
you are needed”
Generation X,
Gen X, Xers
Generation Y,
Gen Y,
Millennial, Echo
Boomers
•Eliminate the
task
•Self-reliance
•Want structure
and direction
•Skeptical
“Do it your way,
forget the rules”
•Multitasking
•Tenacity
•Entrepreneurial
•Tolerant
•Goal oriented
“You will work
with other
bright, creative
people”
Traditionalists
Take time to orient the Traditionalist
Talk in terms of big picture
Train them in technology
Use the personal touch in motivating
Honor their knowledge and experience
Baby Boomers
 Provide opportunities to work on exciting projects that
change the future of your agency
 Use participative management & warm and respectful
communication
 Provide public recognition to honor their experience
 Use coaching and offer training - Baby Boomers are
life long learners
 Provide interesting challenges to tap into their work
expertise
Gen X’ers
 Reward this generation with freedom (Paid time off, relaxed
dress codes, open office designs - Repeat “We want you to
have a life”)
 Provide a fun and relaxed place to work
 Provide leading edge technology, innovation, and hands off
management
 Give them lots of resources in a variety of media to learn and
develop
 Provide simultaneous tasks and projects- they are used to
juggling
Millennials
 Motivate this generation with tangible and intangible
rewards (ability to work with other creative people, creating
a fun environment, allowing them to participate in
decisions)
 Emphasize employee engagement and a sense of
community
 Help them learn, tune into their technology
 Be approachable in your communication
 Provide plenty of feedback
After attending this session, you will be able to:
• Identify your own style of communication
• Discover practical ways to increase your
communication as a team leader
• Understand events & experiences that shape
different generations
• Map out action steps that will help you
connect with & motivate different styles &
generations
Action
Planning