SHARED FROM THE BOOK:
Purple Your People
Jane Sunley
20. THE GENERATION
GAME:
WHY IT MATTERS
Everyone is different and there’s
always exception to the rule. Generation
theory seeks to explain how individuals born within one generation
(approximately a 20 year period) will have a different view of the world. This is because each generation is shaped by
different economic, environmental and social norms.
Baby boomers (born 1945-1961)
Generation X (born 1962-1981)
Generation Y (born 1982-2001)
Some
useful summary of characteristics of baby boomers, generation X and generation
Y:
|
Baby Boomers
|
Generation
X
|
Generation
Y
|
|
Live
to work
|
Work
to live
|
Work
to fund life style
|
|
Long
hours and dedication
|
Do the
necessary and go home
|
WLB, bores
easily
|
|
Motivated
by prestige, perks, status
|
Motivated by
change, freedom, respect and output
|
Motivated
by making a difference
|
|
Knowledge
= power
|
‘show me
what you know’
|
Ask many
questions
|
|
Compliance,
parent-child relationship[ with employer
|
Adult-to-adult
relationship
|
Confidence
to have adult-to-adult relationship
|
|
Know
they’ve done a good job
|
Like regular
feedback
|
Like
immediate feedback
|
|
Make
own decision without consultation
|
Take direction
and then get on with it
|
Need
constant collaboration / direction
|
|
Like
structure and hierarchy
|
Have disdain
for authority and structure
|
Family
values – require nurturing environment
|
|
Like
control
|
Hate being
micro-managed
|
Need
help with problem-solving, like to share
|
|
Want
to lead
|
Self-reliant,
cynical
|
Don’t
want to lead
|
|
Resist
change
|
Relish change
|
Flexible
|
|
Value
experience
|
Assert individuality
|
Experience
irrelevant
|
|
Competitive
and resilient
|
Want to
fix boomers’ mistakes
|
Take
on tough meaningful jobs
|
|
Parents
said ‘you can do anything’
|
Parents said
‘stand on your own two feet’
|
Parents
said ‘you’re wonderful and brilliant at everything
|
|
Keep
opinion to themselves
|
Shared their
opinion
|
Think
you want to know their opinions
|
The
three (3) things:
1. Be aware of how each different
generation thinks and feels
2. Find the best way to communicate
3. Celebrate difference, get excited by
the possibilities and make it work for you and your people
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