(By Philip Walzer, The Virginian-Pilot, © February 8, 2009 ) Tom Davidson, president of Davidson Leadership in Richmond, spoke in
Virginia Beach last fall on “Boomers, Geeks and Geezers.” Here’s his
take on the generations in the workplace:
Veterans, or traditionalists
Born between 1920 and 1945. Many have endured hardship and are used to
self-sacrifice. They tend to prefer conservative dress and respectful
titles. They take work seriously and show deep loyalty to their
employers, but work does not give their lives meaning. Show them
respect and make a convincing case if you propose changes.
Baby boomers
Born between 1945 and 1963. They came of age in an era of social
unrest, so they find meaning in their jobs and they want to be involved
in decisions that affect them. Their self-worth is tied to work, and
they’re willing to work long hours and weekends. They warm to
directives framed “If we do this together, we can change the world.”
Generation X
Born between 1963 and 1980. They saw government let them down during
the Watergate scandal and they were the original latchkey kids, so
they’re highly self-reliant. They’re very adaptable. The office is not
just a place for work, but also a place to socialize and have fun.
They’re not interested in working on the weekends. Give them a lot to
do, give them the resources to do it, but don’t micromanage them.
Generation Y, or the millennials
Born since 1980. They’ve grown up surrounded by technology, from the
Internet to iPods. Their parents had the first “Baby on Board” signs
and became the first “soccer moms and dads,” lavishing the millennials
with attention and praise. They enter the workplace with high
expectations and need frequent feedback and nurturing. A very few
parents even accompany them on job interviews, so consider scheduling
separate meetings for them
(Read the entire article.)
Tags: workplace, behavior, relationships, generational issues
Categories: News