“When Generations
Collide”
“Who They Are. Why They Clash”
“How To Solve
the Generational
Puzzle at Work”
www.generations.c
om
The Generational
Divide
(U.S. Populations)
Traditionalist Born 1925-1945
s 75 Million
Baby Born 1946-1964
Boomers 80 Million
Generation X Born 1965-1980
46 Million
Generation Born 1980-2002
Why Learn About
Generations?
People are at the heart of what we
do.
The Gap is widening.
Different values, experiences, styles,
and attitudes create:
– Misunderstandings
– Frustrations
– Avoid Discrimination!
Traditionalists (60+)
Influences
– Great Depression, Roaring Twenties, World
War I&II, Korean War, G.I. Bill
Characteristics
– Patriotic, loyal, “waste not, want not,” faith
in institutions
– Military influenced top-down approach
Key Word: Loyal
Influential
People/Events
Traditionalists (64+)
Value Logic and Discipline
Don’t Like Change
Want to Build a Legacy
Baby Boomers (46-64)
Influences
– Suburbia, TV, Vietnam, Watergate, protests,
human rights movement, drugs, and rock ‘n
roll
Characteristics
– Idealistic, COMPETITIVE, question authority
Key Word: Optimistic
Influential People
Baby Boomers (39-
57)
“Me” Generation
Money, Title, Recognition
Want to Build A Stellar
Career
Generation X (28-40)
Influences
– Sesame Street, MTV, Game Boy, PC,
divorce rate tripled, latch-key children
– Characteristics- eclectic, resourceful, self-
reliant, distrustful of institutions, highly
adaptive to change and technology
Key Word: Skepticism
Influential People
Generation X (27-40)
Possibly Most Misunderstood
Generation
Need a balance between
work and life - Freedom
Flexible and Motivated
Want to Build a Portable
Career
Generation Y/Millenials
(up to 27)
Influences
– Expanded technology, natural disasters,
violence, gangs, diversity
Characteristics
– Globally concerned, realistic, cyber
literate, “personal safety” is number one
concern
Influential
People/Events
Generation Y/Millenials
(up to 27)
Value Diversity/
Change
Been Involved Entire
Life
Want Work to be
Meaningful
Key Word: Realistic
Trad. Boomers GenX GenY
Slogan “Keepers of “Thank “Work to “Upcoming
the Grail” God, its Live” Optimists”
Monday”
Tech. Unsure and Willing to Techno Technologica
resistant learn Savvy l Superior
Feeling Respectful Non- Dislike Respectful of
toward of authority authoritaria close Traditionalist
super- n super- s
visors vision
Provide Stable Personal Feedback Structure
environmen challenges
t
Goals…
Goal
Traditionalists “Build a Legacy”
Baby Boomers “Build a Stellar Career”
Generation X “Build a Portable
Career”
Generation Y “Build Parallel Careers”
Institutions…
Institutions
Traditionalists “Deserve loyalty”
Baby Boomers “Deserve to change”
Generation X “Are suspect”
Generation Y “Should be judged on
their own merit”
Rewards…
Reward
Traditionalists “Satisfaction of job well
done”
Baby Boomers “Money, title,
recognition”
Generation X “Freedom!”
Generation Y “Work that has
meaning”
Career Path…
Career Path
Traditionalists “Job changing has
stigma”
Baby Boomers “Job changing puts you
behind”
Generation X “Job changing is
necessary”
Generation Y “Doesn’t need to be a
straight line”
Feedback…
Feedback
Traditionalists “No news is good news”
Baby Boomers “Once a year whether
needed or not”
Generation X “So, how am I doing?”
Generation Y “From virtual coach at
touch of a button”
The Key to Success…
Collaboration:
Strengths, Knowledge
Experience, and Skills
