“ Jee Golly” to “OMG” Thriving in the Multigenerational Workplace Lee Lewis – AmeriBen

1. “Jee Golly” to “OMG” Thriving in the Multigenerational Workplace Lee Lewis – AmeriBen

2. Two Farmers

3. We’re All Connected: Important

4. Generations Overview Section 1: Generational Psychology Section 2: Generational Subcultures Section 3: Generational Language: Communicating Across the Gaps Section 4: Generations at Work: Operating Across the Gaps

5. Section 1: Generational Psychology

6. The Curse of Knowing

7. Quotes “There are more pronounced differences between the generations today than there has ever been before...our world has changed so much in the last 50-80 years.” “The Gap is accelerating with the rate of change” “Deferred retirement will further compound the generational compression.” -Claire Raines, co-author of Generations at Work

8. Differences MEN ARE FROM WOMEN ARE FROM

9. Differences? BEIRUT Millennials are From MOSCOW BOOMERS ARE FROM

10. Differences? Culture Formative Experiences Political Environment Social Norms Heroes Television Shows Communication Methods Language??

11. Foreign Language? BRB TTYL SYS ROTFL NP NE1 2G2BT 9 or 99

12. Section 1 Summary For better or worse, we are connected Our bias is that we are very similar The reality is that—in several ways—we are very different

13. Section 1 Activity • Younger • People Are: • Customers Are: • Coworkers Are: • Older • People Are: • Customers Are: • Coworkers Are:

14. A Few Notes Boomers Gen X Millennials Traditionalists Generations represent overlapping bell curves: Millennials do not like being called “Gen Y”

15. Generational Subcultures • The Traditionalists 1922–1943 • Ages 69-90 • The Boomers 1943–1960 • Ages 52-69 • Generation X’ers 1960-1980 • Ages 32-52 • Millennials 1980-2000 • Ages 12-32

16. Traditionalists Events

17. Traditionalists The “Greatest Generation” Gold Standard, #1 Exporter, #1 Lender Self Reliant, Optimistic, Fearless & Frugal Won wars, raised big families, skyrocketed the American Dream and the middle class Traditionalists created the foundation for three generations of unprecedented growth & prosperity

18. Baby Boomers Events

19. Baby Boomers 72 Million Peer Competitors for Resources: Relentless workers, very ambitious Generally, high education levels, high incomes, and dual incomes Huge Market, More Entitlement: “Choice” Generation with demand for plastic surgery, health clubs, cosmetics for both genders, hair coloring, health foods “Don’t trust anyone over 30” during youth Question causes and authority

20. Generation X Events

21. Generation X First generation with rampant divorce and single parent households, plus small gen (17M vs 72M): Fear of being overlooked Lousy economies, no pension, parents were laid off: business skepticism and disloyalty MTV Generation: Dislike formality 40% spend at least some time in a single parent home while young: broad family def. Avid Internet users, technology

22. Millennial Events

23. Millennials Helicopter Parents, Soccer Moms, Trophies, Family Council: Want Input, Optimistic, Confident, Bad with Negative Feedback Internet savvy, use cell phones, email, text message, social media: Constant communication, abbreviated and informal African Americans and Hispanics are style leaders: Accustomed to diversity Taught teamwork at early age

24. Section 2 Summary • The Four Generations Each Grew up in a Different World: • Political Landscape • Language & Communication • Wars, Culture, Technology • These differences shape how each generation sees the world • For peak success, you must understand and adapt to the cultures around you

25. Section 2 Activity Sidebar Dave Ramsey has captured an entire industry sharing “The Advice Your Grandmother Would Give You”

26. Section 2 Activity • Imagine Yourself When You Were Younger: • What experiences and events have shaped your perspective of the world since then? • How are you different now as a result of those experiences? • What general advice would you give your younger self?

27. Section 3: Communicating Across Generation Gaps

28. Communicating Across the Gap is Critical “Research indicates peoplecommunicatebased on their generational backgrounds. [Each] has distinct attitudes, behaviors, expectations, habits and motivators. Learning how to communicate with the different generations can eliminate major confrontations and misunderstandings in the workplace and world of business.” -FDU Magazine

30. Audience before Message

31. Section 3: Communicating Across the Gaps

32. Section 3: Communicating Across the Gaps

33. Communications Quote “Any time we can put [ourselves in another’s shoes] and find out how we can communicate in a way that works best and enables us to be heard best by that other person, we are going to be more effective.” -Deloitte CPA HR Research

34. Section 3 Summary Audience before Message To thrive in a diverse workplace, communication is critical To communicate well, you should adapt your messaging to the listener Using these communication tips will make you a more effective professional

35. Section 3 Activity • You are a manager with three new employees starting this week for an entry level position: a Millennial, a Gen X, and a Baby Boomer reentering the workforce. • What are ways you could cater training to help each to learn most quickly? • How might you adapt your feedback to each member (content, mechanism, frequency)? • Where might you focus communication training for each member?

36. Section 4: Operating Across the Generation Gaps

37. Operating Across the Gaps Critical “At work, generational differences can affect everything, including recruiting, building teams, dealing with change, motivating, managing, and maintaining and increasing productivity. Generational differences affect misunderstandings, turnover, engagement, and attracting employees.” -FDU Magazine

38. Management Challenges More From Less: Shrinking budgets force managers to get more output from fixed resources Output: Determined by empowering, retaining, and engaging your employees Engaged employees have (1) 44% > Retention, (2) 56% > customer service, (3) 50% > Productivity, (4) 33% > Profitability Understand your workforce to engage it

39. Section 4: Operational Analysis by Generation

40. Section 4: Feedback Thoughts

41. Section 4: Feedback Thoughts RESPECT Respect, mutual understanding, and the desire to be heard are principles that resonate across the generations and will lead to a successful workplace.

42. Section 4: Summary “Building upon shared values, attitudes, and behaviors while reaching out in ways that are appropriate to each group will be the key to a manager’s success.” -Deloitte CPA HR Research (this goes for professionals working with coworkers and clients as well)

43. Section 4: Summary Each generation has different needs, advantages, and disadvantages in the workplace and community Adapting our management, working, and service styles to fit our audience is key to success anywhere we interact with others Coupling respect and empathy (others’ shoes) is the best starting place to working productively with all generations

44. We are All Connected

45. Thriving in the Multigenerational Workplace Lee Lewis – AmeriBen llewis@ameriben.com 208-258-2647