You Dont Know Me! Generational Conflict in the workplace

Karen Lindsey-Lloyd

K2L ConsultingIntegrated Leadership/Team Communication Solutions

You Don’t Know Me!Five Generations in the Workplace

What is a Generation?

A society-wide peer group,

born over approximately 20

years, who collectively,

generally possess common

behaviors and traits.

• Generations are shaped by history and events,

technological advances, social changes, economic

conditions, popular culture, regions of the country

2011 Copyright, permission only

Traditionals

Born 1930-1945

The oldest generation in the workplace. May not

be technologically savvy.

Very socially and fiscally conservative. Do not

always enjoy change.

Many are still in the workforce because they

enjoy working, but some are there because they

have to be for financial reasons.

Their life and work experience gives them a lot to

offer but they are rarely asked.


Baby Boomers

Born 1946-1964

Enjoyed the booming, optimistic times post World

War II.

Value hard work and long hours as the means to

success and thus work ethic is extremely

important to them.

Boomers need to be noticed for their hard work.

Varying degrees of comfort with technology and

its purpose. Some are technologically savvy.


Generation X Born 1965-1977

Raised by Baby Boomers who worked long hours and were the first generation to experience the impact of widespread divorce and layoffs.

Gen Xers are very independent and dislike rigid schedules.

Most value being efficient and getting work done quickly.

Want greater balance between their social and work lives than their predecessors--ushered in a more creative, open workplace.


Gen Y or Millennials Born 1977-1990

First generation to grow up with advanced technologies (social networking, cell phones, PDAs, etc.) Very comfortable with technology in every aspect of life.

Tend to be opinionated but are very creative and expect to be challenged.

Grew up in very stable times. Have seen working parents and are more confident.

Less able to communicate face-to-face and apply critical thinking skills. Rarely willing to admit they don’t know something.


Gen 9/11

Born 1990

Youngest generation in the workplace. Has only

seen the world through the prism of the 9/11

tragedy.

Grown up with war and uncertainty and tend to

view the world through that lens.

See the world with less optimism then many of

the other generations.


Common Generational Conflict

SHRM Survey 2007

1. Work Ethic (Gen. X, Y, Millennials)

What does it mean to be “on time” for work?

Higher salary expectations

Different definition of professional attire than Boomers

Why not use text messaging for every communication? Email viewed as old.

Don’t understand “Paying dues” (i.e., expectations for pace of advancement vs. experience/ seniority)


Common Generational Conflict2. Organizational Hierarchy

Older employees tend to accept hierarchies

and respect a chain of command

Younger employees may resist formal

structures, ignore hierarchy

Younger workers tend to prefer more

informal relationships with supervisors than

previous generations (friends on Facebook)


Common Generational Conflict3. Dealing with Change

Younger employees tend to adapt to change more easily than older employees (but not all)

Younger employees typically embrace rapidly changing technologies at work without formal training

All generations challenged to accept different ways of accomplishing work


Common Generational Conflict4. Managing Technology and Communication

Each generation has different levels of comfort with technology in the workplace Not all who are 40 plus are technology dinosaurs, not all 20

somethings are technology wizards

Competing views on using E-mail/cell phones/ iPhone/Blackberry/Text messaging in the workplace

Varying opinions on Web, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter

Strong views on appropriate communication forms necessary for transmitting important information broadly

Understanding when face-to-face/verbal communication is necessary vs. texts, email


Differences between

College and the Workplace

College is about you and

your learning and

development. Improving

yourself is the goal of most

college activities.

• Work is focused on your or your team’s

contribution to reaching a business or institutional

goal. You reach your goals by helping the

organization reach its goals, but your personal

goals are not typically the central focus.


College vs. Work

At college you could

mostly hang with peers of

your own choosing.

At work there may be a

mix of ages, races,

religions and you don’t

always get to pick with

whom you’ll work.


College vs. Work

During college, the focus

is on earning grades.

Work focuses on some

identifiable output that you

are responsible for, but it

is not specifically just

about you or up to you

alone.


College vs. Work

College activities are usually

highly directed; someone tells

you specifically what is

expected and what you need

to do.

Work requires more self-

direction, problem solving and

critical thinking in reaching the

organizational goals in your

area of responsibility.


College vs. Work

Work: requires more complex critical thinking, combines content skills with intellectual and observational skills. Requires verbal communication and conflict resolution. The feedback or praise is not always immediate or clear.

• College: many

assignments are content

based; expected to learn

certain fact-based material

for the test, assignment, or

other graded evaluation.


What does it mean to me?•Turn the searchlight

inward. Respect the

differences, don’t judge,

find similarities.

•Seek wise counsel from

across the generations.

Not just your own.

•Maturity is a decision.

Not an age.


Documents

You Dont Know Me! Generational Conflict in the workplace