The Generational Divide: The Generational Divide: Old Farts and UpstartsOld Farts and Upstarts

Instructor: Ellen WaddellInstructor: Ellen Waddell

Sounds of the GenerationsSounds of the Generations

• Not understanding the sounds of the generations, and the perspectives that are based on life-changing events, can produce stressful, confusing, and frustrating situations in all aspects of our lives, but particularly in group situations.

• This is so much more true today when workplaces are diversified along age, race, gender, ethnicity, and culture-at all levels of the organization.

• Computerization of our lives has drastically changed the make-up of the work place, especially for our youth.

DEFINING EVENTSDEFINING EVENTS1930s1930s• Great Depression• Election of FDR

1940s1940s• Pearl Harbor• D-Day• VE Day and VI Day• Hiroshima/Nagasaki

1950s1950s• Korean War• TV in every home• McCarthy HCUAA Hearings• Rock n Roll• Salk Polio vaccine introduced

1960s1960s• Vietnam• Kennedy elected• Civil Rights Movement• Kennedy and King

assassinations• Moon landing• Woodstock

1970s1970s• Oil Embargo• Nixon Resigns• First PCs• Women’s Rights Movement

1980s1980s• Challenger Explosion• Fall of Berlin Wall• John Lennon shot• Reagan elected• Savings and Loan Debacle • California: Loma Prieta earthquake

1990s1990sDesert Storm

Oklahoma City bombing

Death of Princess Diana

Clinton Scandals

Internet/PC boom

California: Northridge earthquake

2000s2000sY2K

Dot Com rise and fall

911

War on Terrorism

War with Iraq

Sounds of the GenerationsSounds of the Generations

• “They have no work ethic. They’re just a bunch of slackers.”

• “A hiring bonus! Wet behind the ears and he wants a hiring bonus! At his age, I was just grateful to have a job.”

• “I have a new role. I will not attend meetings that start after 5 p.m. I have a life.”

• “He asks me, ‘Do you have an e-mail address?’ I felt like telling him, ‘since you were in diapers, buddy.’”

• “She wants a ‘career map.’ I don’t even know if there will be a customer relations department this time next year.”

• If I hear, ‘We tried that in ’87’ one more time, I will scream!”

The Veterans: 1922-1943The Veterans: 1922-1943 Popular names George and Dorothy

AKA Traditionalists; WWII Generation;

The Silent Generation; Seniors

Defining events The Great Depression; Pearl Harbor; WWII; New Deal; Korean War; Golden Age of Radio; Silver Screen; Rise of Labor Unions

Visible members Harry Belafonte; George Bush Sr.; Jimmy Carter; Phil Donohue; John Glenn; Gloria Steinem

Music of their early years

Swing; Big Band; Glenn Miller; Duke Ellington; Benny Goodman; Tommy Dorsey; Frank Sinatra

The Baby Boomers: 1943-1960The Baby Boomers: 1943-1960 Popular names Tom and Linda

AKA Boomers

Defining events Prosperity; Children in the spotlight; Television (color); Suburbia; Assassinations; Vietnam; Civil Rights Movement; Flower Children; Woodstock; The Cold War; Women’s Liberation: The Space Race

Visible members Bill & Hilary Clinton; David Letterman; Oprah Winfrey; Jane Pauley; Bill Gates; Rush Limbaugh; Mick Jagger

Music of their early years

Rock n Roll; Acid Rock; Elvis; The Beatles; Rolling Stones; Grateful Dead; Beach Boys; Jimi Hendrix; Janis Joplin; Bob Dylan; Supremes; Temptations

The Generation Xers: 1960-1980The Generation Xers: 1960-1980 Popular names Devon and Li

AKA Xers; Twenty-somethings; Thirteeners; Baby busters; Post-boomers

Defining events Watergate/Nixon resigns; Latchkey kids; Stagflation; Single-parent homes; MTV; AIDS; Computerized games/emergence of PCs; Challenger disaster; Wall Street/S&L; Fall of Berlin Wall; Persian Gulf; Glasnost & Perestroika

Visible members George Stephanopoulis; Kurt Cobain; Jewel; Brad Pitt; Michael Jordan; Matt Groening; Neil Stephenson; Michael Dell

Music of their early years

Disco; Rap; Raggae; Elton John; Bruce Springstein; Tina Turner; Bon Jovi; Michael Jackson; Guns n Roses; U2; Prince

The Nexters: 1980-2000The Nexters: 1980-2000 Popular names Brandon and Crystal

AKA Millennials; Generation Y; Generation 2001; Nintendo Generation; Generation Net; Internet Generation

Defining events Computers; Schoolyard violence; Oklahoma City bombings; It takes a village; TV talk shows; Multiculturalism; Girl’s movement; McGuire and Sosa; 911; War on Terrorism

Visible members Kerri Strug; Macauley Culkin; Tara Lipinski; Chelsea Clinton; LeAnn Rimes

Music of their early years

Alternative Rap; SKA; Remix; Jewel; Puff Daddy; ALanis Morrisette; Toni Braxton; Will Smith; Savage Garden; Spice Girls; Hanson; Garth Brooks; Backstreet Boys; Brintney

Cross-Generational SuccessCross-Generational Success

• To work well with those who have different life experiences from your own, you must understand what motivates them:

• Money• Power• Training and experience with influential people• Leisure time• Alternative schedules• Tradition vs. “breaking the mold”• Technology/newest hard and software