““Talkin' 'bout my Generation”Talkin' 'bout my Generation”

A Look at the GenerationsA Look at the GenerationsIn Our WorkforceIn Our Workforce

What are we Talkin’ ‘bout… TodayWhat are we Talkin’ ‘bout… Today

Generational TheoryGenerational Theory

Four Generations in the WorkplaceFour Generations in the Workplace

State of California DemographicsState of California Demographics

Strategies for HarmonyStrategies for Harmony

TheoryTheory

• Based on groundbreaking work of demographers and historians William Strauss and Neil Howe.

• 1991 published book, Generations – The History of America's Future, 1584 to 2069.

TheoryTheory

IdealisIdealistAdaptiveAdaptive

CivicCivicReactiveReactive

Generational Cycle

Source: “Generations” by William Strauss & Neil Howe

4 different types of Generations4 different types of Generations

TheoryTheory

AdaptiveAdaptive IdealistIdealist ReactiveReactive CivicCivic

Recessive Generation raised in an over-protected and suffocated environment, GENTEEL lifecycle of expertise and making things better.

Dominant GenerationLooks INWARD,Grew up being indulgedPROPHETIC lifecycle of vision and values

Recessive GenerationRaised in an under-protected environment, Criticized as youth REALISTIC lifecycle of survival and adventure

Dominant GenerationLooks outward and has a HEROIC lifestyle of secular achievement and reward

Four GenerationsFour Generations

AdaptiveAdaptive IdealistIdealist ReactiveReactive CivicCivic

Name of Name of GenerationGeneration Silent Baby

Boomer Gen X Millennial

Age NowAge Now 66-83 48-65 27-47 6-26

Birth Birth YearsYears 1925-1942 1943-1960 1961-1981 1982-2002

G.I. Generation (84+) 1900-1924G.I. Generation (84+) 1900-1924

• "The lawyers tell me they need more time, but I tell them I really don't have a lot of time at 93 1/2 years old."

-- Judge Milton Pollack

Who’s in the G.I. Generation?Who’s in the G.I. Generation?

• Walt Disney• John Wayne• Ann Landers• Lee Iacocca• Katharine Hepburn• Every U.S. President from 1961 to 1993 (9 elections!) JFK to G.H.W. Bush

Silent Generation (66-83) 1925-1942Silent Generation (66-83) 1925-1942

• Milestones:– Stock market crash– Great Depression– New Deal – World War II

• Credited with the surge in helping professions such as teaching, medicine, ministry

• Civil Rights: MLK, Malcolm X, Cesar Chavez

Silent Generation (66-83)Silent Generation (66-83)

• William F. Buckley• Andy Warhol• Sandra Day O’Connor• Woody Allen• Phil Donahue• Barbra Streisand• NO Presidents Candidates: John McCain Mondale, Dukakis, Gary Hart

G.I. + Silent = Traditionalists• Combined, the G.I. and Silent

generations are often referred to as the Traditionalists in our workforce (66+).

Baby Boomers (48-65)Baby Boomers (48-65)• Milestones:

– TV age begins, polio vaccine discovered, school desegregation decision

– Vietnam protests, Summer of Love, Woodstock, Kent State

– 18 year olds awarded the vote

– Apollo moon landing– MLK and Kennedy

assassinations

Baby Boomers (48-65)Baby Boomers (48-65)• Janis Joplin• Steve Martin• Donald Trump• Jane Pauley• Patty Hearst• Bill Gates• The last two presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush

Generation XGeneration X• Milestones:

– Rosemary’s Baby begins decade of “bad child” films

– Roe v. Wade, Birth control pills

– Watergate scandal– Iran hostage crisis– Challenger shuttle

explodes, Berlin Wall comes down

– Reagan & Pope shootings– MTV

Generation XGeneration X

• Amazon and Ebay entrepreneurs Jeff Bezos and Pierre Omidar• Lance Armstrong• Demi Moore• Tony Hawk• Kurt Cobain• Janeane Garofalo• Barack Obama

MillennialsMillennials• Milestones:

– Tiananmen Square, Berlin Wall, End of Cold War

– Rodney King, O.J. Simpson

– Waco, Heaven’s Gate cults

– Oklahoma City bombing– Clinton/Lewinsky– Columbine–9-11

MillennialsMillennials• Danica Patrick• John Mayer• Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen• Bow Wow• Prince William• Miley Cyrus

We Think DifferentlyWe Think DifferentlyI AM NOT YOU

What We Want To Accomplish at WorkWhat We Want To Accomplish at Work• Silents:

– Maximize economic value, strengthen institutions

• Boomers:– Self-actualize, act on their ideals, and produce

visible accomplishments

• Gen Xers:– Get more done in less time, make processes work

better, be left alone

• Millennials:– Do socially meaningful work, collaborate,

multitask, participate, and receive feedback.

TraditionalistsTraditionalists• How they work

– Stable, detail-oriented, thorough, loyal and hard-working

• Their preferences– Not comfortable with ambiguity or change– Reluctant to buck the system– Uncomfortable with conflict– Reticent when they disagree– Formal feedback– Prefer one-on-one training– Face to face meetings

Baby BoomersBaby Boomers• How they work

– Service oriented, driven, willing to go the extra mile, good at relationships, can be workaholics

• Their preferences– May put process ahead of result– Participative Management– Like to work with people who have similar points of view– Face to face meetings, email

Generation XGeneration X• How they work

– Adaptable, techno-literate, not intimidated by authority, creative, entrepreneurs

• Their preferences– Multiple projects,

Independence, Timely feedback

– Flexible work schedules– Change jobs and careers

several times

MillennialsMillennialsHow they work

Work well in teams, multi-tasking capabilities, technologically savvy, realistic, are OK with long hours, meaningful work, diversity

• Their preferences– Supervision and structure– Assistance with handling

difficult people issues– Immediate feedback– Working with technology– Integrating Work and Life

State of California’s WorkforceState of California’s Workforce

Silent/G.I. Baby Boomer Gen X Millennial

3%3%

47%47%

39%39%

11%11%

Supervisors/Managers/CEAs/ExemptsSupervisors/Managers/CEAs/Exempts

Silent/G.I. Baby Boomer Gen X Millennial

3%3%

70%70%

26%26%

1%1%

Build Bridges, Not Walls• Knowledge Management for senior

workers• Provide a forum for workers and IT

professional to discuss technology issues and training differences

• Encourage and help set up reciprocal mentoring relationships between generations

Build Bridges, Not Walls• Provide a place for younger workers to

voice their views• Challenge younger workers to help

solve the cultural and generational issues in the workplace

• Empower and reward workers who create and use new solutions and practices.

• Generations on Teams

Thank you!

The End!

Julielee@dpa.ca.gov