Boomers and Millennials are significantly different as audiences, coworkers, and managers. This presentation described how we know and how we can communicate information, work with, and work for each generation
7. Survey: “What makes your
generation unique?”
Rank Milennial Gen X Boomer
1
Technology use
(24%)
Technology use
(12%)
Work ethic (17%)
2
Music/Pop culture
(11%)
Work ethic (11%) Respectful (14%)
3 Liberal/tolerant (7%)
Conservative/
Traditional (7%)
Values/Morals (8%)
Pew Research Group
14
8. Top photo: GM, from https://usat.ly/2PBrBWBUSAA, from https://bit.ly/2Q1T44D
Bottom photo: Getty Images
15
13. “Boomer” generation
• Born: 1946–1964 (2018: 54–72)
• Leader class
• Influences: TV, JFK
assassination, Vietnam War,
Woodstock, Watergate
• Attitudes: materialistic,
workaholic, individualistic, free-
spirited, suspicious of authority
• Information needs: text, simplicity
• Work style: face-to-face meetings
Jacob Lund, Shutterstock
25
14. “Gen X” generation
• Born: 1965–1980 (2018: 38–53)
• Manager class
• Influences: computers, video
games, Challenger disaster, end
of Cold War, Gulf War I
• Attitudes: self-reliant,
entrepreneurial; mistrustful of
government; anxious about jobs
• Information needs: text, visual
• Work style: hands off
CUInsight
26
15. “Millennial” generation
• Born: 1981–1996 (2018: 22–
37)
• Worker class
• Influences: smartphones,
Internet, diversity, Columbine
• Attitudes: busy, stressed;
collaborative, goal-driven
• Information needs: visual,
embedded
• Work style: hands on
Gino Santa Maria, Dreamstime
27
17. Boomer
• Life event: JFK assassination
• Car: Prius
• Goal: Fulfillment
• Ideal job: High paying
• Work style: Face to face
• Trusted source: Brittanica
• Success is: Putting in the time
• Stressors: Age discrimination
Thinkstock
36
18. Gen X
• Life event: Challenger disaster
• Car: Leased BMW
• Goal: Balancing work and life
• Ideal job: Project leader
• Work style: Self-reliant
• Trusted source: Google
• Success is: Done on time
• Stressors: Stuffing my 401(k)
Fotolia
37
19. Millennial
• Life event: Columbine shooting
• Car: Uber
• Goal: Saving the world
• Ideal job: Making an impact
• Work style: Group texts
• Trusted source: Wikipedia
• Success is: Positive feedback
• Stressors: Student loans
Depositphotos
38
21. Presenting information to this
younger generation
• They may be tech-immersed but not tech-savvy
• Don’t write, show (videos are a powerful draw)
• Discuss achievements and feedback
• Use augmented reality, virtual reality, gamification
• Training: video (TEDtalk style)
41
23. Presenting information to this
older generation
• Explain new tech in terms of old tech
• Show app steps you think are obvious, but aren’t to them
• Show how things look when they succeed, and give tips
for recovering from errors
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26. Boomers in the workplace
are considered:
• Experienced with corporate
environment
• Self-directed
• Live to work
• Loyal, productive, hard-working
• Team players
• Competitive
• Interested in pay and respect
Ernst & Young generation survey, 2013,
http://www.ey.com/US/en/Issues/Talent-management/Talent-
Survey-The-generational-management-shift
52
28. Millennials in the workplace
are considered:
• Enthusiastic
• Tech-savvy
• Entrepreneurial
• Inexperienced with corporate
environment
• Used to constant, individual
feedback
• Interested in fulfillment more than
money
• Interested in social goals
“Mentoring Millennials,” Meister and Willyerd,
Harvard Business Review, May 2010
54
29. Working with (significantly)
older people
• Don’t discriminate by age
• Show your work
• Do not say, “I have parents your age” even if you do
• Never say “This is so easy!”
• Don’t roll your eyes—take them seriously, despite their
age
• Be willing to learn
• Look for a mentor
• Don’t make the boss look bad in public
• If you’re their boss, ask for feedback, and listen
• They’ve had to work hard since they were your age to
get where they are today
• Ignore the occasional insensitive comment—they’re
not woke
• Tune your messages
Scott Griessel, Getty Images
55
30. Working with (significantly)
younger people
• Don’t discriminate by age
• Be flexible
• Do not say, “I have kids your age!” (even if you
do)
• Things have changed since you were their age
• If you’re the boss, they may still be right
• Coach, don’t micromanage
• Mentor, don’t boss
• Don’t criticize them in front of others
• Coach them through the occasional social
awkwardness
• Tune your messages
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33. For more information (1)
• Strauss and Howe: Generations (1991); The Fourth Turning (1997);
Millennials Rising (2000)
• Pew Research Center, Millennials: A Portrait of Generation Next,
February 2010
• Pew Research Group, “The Whys and Hows of Generations
Research,” 3 September 2015
• Richard Fry, “Millennials projected to overtake Baby Boomers as
America's largest generation,” Pew Research Center, 1 March 2018
• Victoria Deen McCrady, “Millennials: A New Breed of Novice.” STC
Intercom, September 2015
65
34. For more information (2)
• Tekla S. Perry, “Does Age Discrimination in Tech Start at
40?” IEEE Spectrum, 20 October 2017
• Matthew Hennessey, “Generation X needs to save
America from millennials.” N.Y. Post, 5 August 2017.
• Ernst & Young, Global Generations: A global study on
work-life challenges across generations, 2015
• Jessica Kriegel, Unfairly Labeled: How Your Workplace
Can Benefit from Ditching Generational Stereotypes,
Wiley, 2016
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