Bridging Generational Divides in Virginia's Membership Forum

1. Virginia Membership ForumGenerational Leadership 4 Generations of Members Understanding Communication and Leadership Issues Ill. Michael Smith, 33° SGIG in SC January 2009

2. Virginia Membership ForumOur Fraternal Bonds Brothers we have so much in common • Our obligations to God and ourselves • The mystic tie of the Fraternity • Brotherly love of true Masons • Passion for our philanthropies! • Rich History in Virginia and the World

3. Virginia Membership ForumGenerational Conflict “ Those old white heads run everything and won’t listen to my ideas.” “ We do it this way because that’s the way we have always done it.” “ If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” “ Our meetings are so boring.” “ Why can’t we do things differently”

4. Virginia Membership ForumRecognizing Diversity Session Agenda • 4 Generations of Members • Pre-session Exercise ( Please Stand Up!) • Generational Introduction • Which group do I belong to? • Who are they? • Characteristics of each • Working Together / Understanding each other • Leading Together / Building a successful team!

5. Virginia Membership ForumVirginia Generational Diversity Sources: Express Business Solutions, US Census and Grand Lodge of Virginia 2008

6. Virginia Membership ForumMembership Analysis 2008

7. Virginia Membership ForumTraditionals - Loyalty • Core Need: Membership / Responsibility • Remember your first television? • Survived difficulty (Depression, WWII) • Value • Stability • Security • Community • Patriotism • Reverence of God • Like structure and form

8. Virginia Membership ForumBaby Boomers - Optimists • Core Need: Work ethic, Transformation • Remember your first Color Television? • Competition for work created work ethic • Value • Fairness to all • Improving things • Accomplishment of goals • Like to find work-life balance as they age

9. Virginia Membership ForumGeneration X - Skeptical • Core Need: Independence / Freedom • Remember your first PersonalComputer? • Most misunderstood generation due to skeptical nature ( Latchkey Kids ) • Tech savvy • Like to get the job done and move on • Flexible schedules

10. Virginia Membership ForumMillennials – Wired • Core Need: Respect & Engagement • Remember your first iPOD? • First Generations to Teach Older Gen • Like to be involved and respected • Need to contribute to the team • Like coaching/mentoring with the tools to do the job • Tech savvy

11. Virginia Membership Forum

12. Virginia Membership ForumThe Art of Delegation • How would you delegate to • A Traditional? • A Boomer? • A Gen-X’er? • A Millennial? • How would they respond?

13. Virginia Membership ForumTraditional Relationships Stability & Loyalty • Core: Membership and Responsibility • Characteristic: Structured (Military) • Trust hierarchy, standards, and norms. • Straight up and to the point with tasks • Listen to them. • Respect their experience! • Share the task and results

14. Virginia Membership ForumBaby Boomer Relationships Transformational & Optimistic • Core: Strong Work Ethic (Competition) • Characteristic: Idealistic - Fairness • Build Trust: Why do we do it this way? • Like to restructure or improve things • Aging and now want balance in how they spend time

15. Virginia Membership ForumGen X Relationships Entrepreneurial & Skeptical • Core Need: Independence (Cultural Shifts) • Characteristic: Resourceful & Independent • Let them do the task creatively and move on • Like variety and stimulation • Casual and relaxed environment • Less structure

16. Virginia Membership ForumMillennial Relationships Wired, Involved and Always On! • Core Need: Fast Response & Engagement • Characteristic: Involvement (Information Age) • First generation to teach older generations • Must give quick response and feedback • Get the job done quick with creativity • Allow them to Lead—Listen to their suggestions • Build Loyalty and Trust.

17. Virginia Leadership ForumHow to Engage and Retain Traditionals • Offer tasks geared to skills sets. • Develop Roles and Responsibilities • Stick to the Plan and Schedules • Respectful Language Dislike Vulgarity • Dress Appropriately (Provide Formality) • RESPECT Experience – LISTEN!

18. Virginia Leadership ForumHow to Engage and Retain Boomers • Value their experience! Listen to them • Recognize their contributions • Provide leadership opportunities • Politically Correct environment • ASK them—Don’t TELL them • Follow proper etiquette

19. Virginia Membership ForumHow to Engage and Retain Gen X’ers • Quick feedback on their projects • Allow them to multi-task • Don’t micromanage their work • Provide technology and tools • Offer a balance between work and social activities • Listen to their ideas

20. Virginia Membership ForumHow to Engage and Retain Millennials • Provide Orientation and Training • Assign Mentors or Coaches • Respect their ideas. Don’t Talk down to. • Respond quickly to requests • Provide latest tools and technology • Recognize their work and their results.

21. Virginia Membership ForumGenerational Leadership Process • Delegation • Coaching & Mentoring • Membership Retention • Education and Training Programs • Philanthropy Programs • Improved Communication Etiquette

22. Virginia Leadership ForumCommunication Etiquette • Respect each other’s time • Ask Permission for time • Return Calls and Email • 24 hours time limit • Resist Intolerance • “First seek to understand, only then to be understood” – S. Covey • Identify your motivation

23. Virginia Membership ForumCommunication Etiquette • Assume formality with names • Small recognition work to build teams. • Connect with members • Regular communication – Use Technology! • Keep them in the loop • Be aware of your tone • People get feelings hurt

24. Virginia Membership ForumCommunication Etiquette • Appreciation / Recognition • Honor your Older Members • Include your members conversations & introductions

25. Virginia Leadership ForumRelevance to Virginia Freemasons • Improved Masonic Education • Increased Membership Retention • Improved Member Communications • Improved Teamwork • Improved Mentoring of New Members • Improved Understanding of Charities • Improved Financial Communications

26. Virginia Membership ForumCommunication Etiquette Remember: Your words are important! “ Your words will always return to you to either haunt or bless you as they influence others” - F. Hradowski “ A quarrel is an argument that has become infected with negative personal emotion.” - F. Hradowski

27. Virginia Membership ForumLeading Positive Change “If you don’t take change by the hand, it will take you by the throat!” — Sir Winston Churchill

28. Virginia Membership ForumLeading Positive Change • Watch carefully your thoughts, they will become your words. • Watch your words, for they will become your actions. • Watch your actions, for they will become your habits. • Watch your habits, for they will define your character. • My Brother, your character defines your destiny! • - F. Hradowski.

29. Virginia Membership ForumGenerational Strength • Each Generation Strengthens Us ! • How well we work together will determine our survival! • How well we understand each other will insure our success !

30. Virginia Membership ForumOur Fraternal Bonds Brothers we have so much in common • Our obligations to God and ourselves • The mystic tie of the Fraternity • Brotherly love of true Masons • Passion for our philanthropies! • Rich History in Virginia and the World