CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska Perspectives on
Generational Differences Michelle Pedersen William Browning Slide 2
CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska Who Are We? Director
of Human Resources Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies 20
years of government HR Management experience Significant experience
leading public sector reorganization, business re-engineering
projects Over 15 years expertise in developing and delivering
training Industrial/Organizational Psychology Degree Program
Manager Colorado Department of State SCORE program 15 years
management consulting expertise for government and Fortune 500
commercial clients Significant expertise in public sector
organizational change management, strategy development, and program
turn around Recently assisted in development of state-wide IT
consolidation strategy for Colorado. Slide 3 CLEAR 2008 Annual
Conference Anchorage, Alaska Our Objectives for Today Understand
Communicate Apply Children nowadays are tyrants they gobble their
food, contradict their parents, and tyrannise their teachers!
Socrates, 425 BC Slide 4 CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference Anchorage,
Alaska Rules for Today Respect! Participate! Disconnect! Slide 5
CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska Exercise!
Generational Breakout! Most Significant Historical Event Your
Heroes and Influencers Favorite Method of Communication Slide 6
CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska Your Hero?
Communication Style Significant Event? Millennial (Y) Generation X
Baby Boomer Generation Silent (WWII) Generation Understanding the
Generational Differences White Board / Report out! Slide 7 CLEAR
2008 Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska Generational Landscape
Baby Boomers 1943-1964Hold Power Silent 1927-1942Receding Influence
Millennial (Gen Y) 1977-1998Entering Generation X
1965-1976Ascending Influence For the first time in American
history, there are four distinct generations in the workplace
today! Slide 8 CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska
Generational Landscape - Silent Outlook: Practical Work Ethic:
Dedicated View of Authority: Respectful Leadership by: Hierarchy
Relationships: Personal Sacrifice Perspective: Civic When working
with Silent: Face to Face. Formal/chain of command. Linear/task
oriented. Utilize the history they hold. If you are a Silent: Share
your history. Be a mentor. Stretch your adaptor muscles. Silent
Communication Strategies: Slide 9 CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference
Anchorage, Alaska Generational Landscape - Boomers When working
with Boomers: Friendly and welcoming. Inclusive. Give opportunities
for feedback. Provide Acknowledgement. If you are a Boomer: Walk
your talk. Dont take it personally. Be sincere. A little less
process Outlook: Optimistic Work Ethic: Driven View of Authority:
Love/Hate Leadership by: Consensus Relationships: Personal
Gratification Perspective: Team Boomer Communication Strategies:
Slide 10 CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska
Generational Landscape Generation X Generation X Communication
Strategies: Outlook: Skeptical Work Ethic: Balanced View of
Authority: Unimpressed Leadership by: Competence Relationships:
Reluctance to commit Perspective: Self When working with Xers: Use
technology Get to the Point Be Sincere Problem-solving Orientation
If you are an Xer: Engage with your team Ask for what you need Be
patient with the process Lighten Up!! Slide 11 CLEAR 2008 Annual
Conference Anchorage, Alaska Generational Landscape Millennial
Generation Y Communication Strategies: Outlook: Hopeful Work Ethic:
Insufficient Data Yet View of Authority: Relaxed, polite Leadership
by: Collaboration Relationships: Loyal Perspective: Civic When
working with Millennials: Nurture them. Be open and friendly. Make
it fast and fun. Give them opportunities for collaboration. If you
are a Millennial: Strive for independence. Look for a mentor.
Listen more, talk less. Learn to deal with conflict. Slide 12 CLEAR
2008 Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska Challenge! Seniority based
on length of service and age. I wont follow someone I dont respect.
Theres right and wrong, rarely any in between. The world is
troubled, we want to do something about it. Is this going to be on
the test? Fab five not the Fab four was all the rage. Fonzie,
Alice, and white polyester suits were in. IMHO,U R G8T. ROTFLOL!.
BFF!!! Promotions come by moving carefully up the corporate ladder
and following chain of command. No Land Line Phone Casual day? I
thought that was every day? Silent/WWII Generation Generation X
Baby Boomer Generation Millennial/Y Generation Slide 13 CLEAR 2008
Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska Communication Across
Generations Silent (Take the time) Pick up the phone Face Time
Deals done with handshake Boomers (Respect the time) Meetings /
Groups Cell Phone Email Gen X (Efficiency) Cell Text / IM Email Gen
Y (Effective / Efficient) Cell Text / IM Email and Blog Multi-Media
(You Tube) Effective Approach High Tech Non-Collaborative
Ineffective Meetings Long, Disengaged Meetings Kiss of Death Slide
14 CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska Generational
Labeling and Considering Between Generations Dont Put People in a
Box People may have traits of multiple generations Generational
guidelines can be a good starting point but be careful to make
general assumptions. Tweeners: Born on the fringes of a
generational definition Exhibit behaviors and styles from both
generations Slide 15 CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska
VIDEO Slide 16 CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska Case
Study: SCORE Program Statewide Colorado Voter Registration and
Election System (SCORE) Citizen Voter Registration Election
Management Registers to Vote DMV Vital RecordsCorrections
Validation SCORE Counties Votes Citizen Ballot Preparation Election
Management Election Calendar Districts & Precincts Ballot
Processing Election Workers Receive Absentee Ballots Vote Center
& Early Voting Slide 17 CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference Anchorage,
Alaska Using Generational Communication Techniques on SCORE
Building Effective Communication County Clerks Boomers Silent WHO
GENERATION WHAT WORKED: WHAT DIDNT: Field
SupportLeadershipTechnical MillenniumBoomersGen X Millennium In
County Face to Face Con Calls / Webinar Text Cell Concise Email
Meetings Extended Email Phone Email Text Web Email Meetings
Extended Email Web Concise Email Meetings Extended Email Slide 18
CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska Three Key Questions
1.Who is currently IN your organization? 2.What motivates them?
3.Who do you want to ATTRACT to your organization? Breaking Through
Bureaucracy Slide 19 CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska
Rules of Engagement Engaged Builders Know expectations and roles
High Performers Want to use talents and strengths Connection to
company Not Engaged Neither negative nor positive Wait and see
attitude Dont commit Actively Disengaged Cave Dwellers Consistently
against virtually everything Busy acting out unhappiness Undermine
what engaged workers do Across Generations 29% Engaged 55% Not
Engaged 16% Actively Disengaged Engagement levels typically
deteriorate with time US Workforce Statistics Slide 20 CLEAR 2008
Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska Employer Insights Mindset, not
age Public vs Private Management Style Current workforce Exit
Interviews Pay and Benefits The Basics Attraction/Marketing
Strategy Advertising content and tool Application process
Interviewing for retention Good Government Starts Here Position,
Not Person Work Hours/Flexibility Technology Expectations Variety
Customers Recruit to Retain Slide 21 CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference
Anchorage, Alaska Engaging the Generations Appreciation for
Expertise and Experience Lifelong learners Giving
back/Responsibility Organizational Loyalty Silent Next options?
Boomer Visible Difference/Bosss Recognition Own goals and skills
first Job hopping - employability Started the Work-life balance
Stock Options Generation X Time-Off Personal Fulfillment Generation
Y Effective Motivation Management Career path = Prep for Self
Employment Variety and Opportunity Status / Titles Money /
Promotion / Recognition Loyalty to Self: Personal Satisfaction
Subordinates/Control Slide 22 CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference
Anchorage, Alaska Non-Generational Retention Getting Personal in
the Workplace ASK The exit interview is too late Training
Strategies Whats in it for me? Exciting, Challenging, Meaningful
Values Performance Management Good Boss Fun Are you looking
closely? Slide 23 3 careers, > 12 employers, and be self
employed at least once Will have >5 careers, >29 employers,
and be self employed MORE than once Expect flexibility (both men
and women) Comfortable with diversity and opposite gender
Generation Y Directive, command and control management style">
CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference Anchorage, Alaska Recruitment and
Retention Considerations Disciplined Environment Consistency Fixed
views on gender roles Silent Boomer Skeptical of authority Focus on
their rights and skills Easy to recruit, hard to retain Generation
X Employment is for life Talk about inclusive leadership, but lack
skills or believe in it Workaholic and Superwoman" Will have >3
careers, > 12 employers, and be self employed at least once Will
have >5 careers, >29 employers, and be self employed MORE
than once Expect flexibility (both men and women) Comfortable with
diversity and opposite gender Generation Y Directive, command and
control management style Slide 24 CLEAR 2008 Annual Conference
Anchorage, Alaska Putting it together What they say is important
across all generations Coaching and mentoring, but not
micromanagement Exciting Challenging Meaningful Work Feedback that
is timely, accurate and specific Recognition of good work Great
people and a fun environment Perks that are of relevance to
lifestyle Outlined and clearly defined goals and objectives with
freedom to execute Are You a Good Boss? Slide 25 CLEAR 2008 Annual
Conference Anchorage, Alaska Questions? Slide 26 CLEAR 2008 Annual
Conference Anchorage, Alaska Speaker Contact Information Michelle
Pedersen Director of Human Resources Colorado Department of
Regulatory Agencies 303 894 2116 [email protected]
William Browning Program Manager, Colorado Department of State 303
349 4921 [email protected]
