Jake Avery. Mgmt-3302. Monk. 4/8/17. Generational Differences

Today’s leader is faced with many challenges, and one is the generational divide that exists in the workplace today. With four different generations working together it is clear that each group has their own preference for communication. Throughout the context of this paper I will explore the generational differences, and describe the characteristics of my generation with regard to leadership and communication styles. I will also describe how technology and the information age play a role in how leaders communicate. Finally, I will identify basic communication skills that are needed and used in generational leadership.

Their values were shaped primarily by a rise in civil rights activism Vietnam and inflation. Baby Boomers were cherished by parents that had sacrificed and fought a war for the right to bear them raise them, indulge them. Baby boomers tend to be more optimistic and open to change and are also responsible for the “Me Generation” with its pursuit for personal gratification. Baby Boomers value face time in the office and my not welcome workplace flexibility or work/life balance trends. High levels of responsibility, perks, praise and challenges will motivate this Generation. Furthermore, when understanding Boomers, there’s the issue and added complexity of older Boomers and younger Boomers also known as the First half/Second Half. First halfers are those born in the 1940s. They are more idealistic, more likely to be workaholics and more likely to have put career first, family second. The first halfers’ world view was more affected by the 1950s. The late Bloomers or second halfers tend to feel different about work. They graduated from college and went to work during the Reagan era. They got the first taste of downsizing, large scale layoffs. This makes them more cynical and less gung ho about management than early Boomers. They feel that good work habits and positive mental attitude are not always rewarded and often are not enough to save a job regardless of how well it has been

The Generation X group is the nurses that I am identified with as I was born in 1968. When I began I would say there were more Baby Boomers in the Emergency room; now generation Xers appear to be the majority. Individuals within Generation X are independent, confident, creative and comfortable with change and new technology. Within nursing, GenXers value the work-life balance and seek acknowledgment for their talents and expertise (Leiter & Laschinger, 2010). Generation Xers, however, have no problem declining the extra work hours. In general, they believe that if management focused on meeting the needs of staff members, they would be more concerned about adequate staffing and find a resolution instead of depending on staff staying late and working more (Sudheimer, E., 2009). As a leader my expectations are high, I want to envision everyone working to the top of their license, I have minimal tolerance for anything other than your best work. Boomers want to be appreciated and strive to get the job completed but are having a harder time keeping up with the technology and the ever-increasing demands. For Boomers the patients are the focus and take excellent care of not only the patient but the family as well. Boomers may require a bit more patience; I envision them staying later to finish documentation and requiring a bit more hand holding with any change that

The current generations in the workplace today are Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. Each generation brings their own values and mindsets to the mix. Although genetics play a part in a person’s characteristics, the generation in which someone is born into also plays an integral part in shaping their mind, values, goals, and work ethics. People from the same generation share similar experiences, and this can influence how they think politically and socially.

They deplore the fact that a post-secondary education is no longer an automatic ticket to the perks of a middle class lifestyle. They also demonstrate distaste for institutions and labels, and feel that freedom of expression and liberation of self is fundamental for positive change. On that token, one of the most controversial topics of comparison between the Baby Boomers and the Millennials is that of work ethic. Boomers are often thought of as being hard-working and industrious. They often tie much of their self-worth directly to their professional achievements. They are often competitive which drives them to take on a host of professional responsibilities. This keeps them motivated and self-assured. Millennials have a tendency to want to start at the top, side-stepping the entry level positions and the upper rings of corporate ladder that Boomers dedicated decades of their time to

“If you don’t think generation makes a difference, think of this example. When asked to recall how and where Kennedy died, the Veterans and Baby Boomers would say gunshots in Dallas, Texas; Generation X remembers a plane crash near Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.; and Milinials might say, “Kennedy who?” (FDUMagazine Online, p. 2) Each individual generation brings different values and skills to the table, but the pronounced differences can cause conflict within the workplace. Bill Brennan’s “Generational Differences” discusses the generational differences between the four main groups, or generations, of the United States; Veterans (born before 1945), Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964), Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) and Millennials, Gen Y, (born between 1980 and 1994). Through his depiction,

According to Mary Bennett, Silenters, Baby Boomers, Generations X, Millennials and Nexters are the five generations that make up the workforce. The descriptions of each generation and the motivational factors that drive each to perform vary. Although Rose Dunn refers to individuals born before 1964 as “Veterans or Silenters”, Bennett identifies individuals born during the years 1900 to 1946, as the Silent Generation. Bennett describes members of this generation as individuals who value duty, loyalty, independence, are committed to compliance and prefer teamwork. Bennett describes boomers as individuals whose self-worth is defined by their professional success, are devoted to their careers, adapt to change, prefer to communicate in person, and

The four generations presented in this paper are: The Veterans, The Baby Boomers, Generation X, and the Millennias. The Veterans, also known as seniors or traditionalist, were born between 1925 and 1945 (Andrews & Boyle 2016). These individuals lived through the world wars, overcame economic hardship, and have chosen to continue to work past the common retirement age. This group of individuals believe they work out of

Work-focused. Often cited as workaholics, the stereotypical Baby Boomer is extremely work focused. Sally Kane in her article, Baby Boomers, states “position, perks and prestige” are great motivators for Baby Boomers. Because they believe they have put in the long hours and self-sacrifice required to get where they are today, they feel the incoming generations should do the same. They find it difficult to understand the younger generations’ desire to constantly challenge work day hours and their insistence on off-site work options. They are independent and challenge authority, yet are loyal to the team. They are goal oriented and they want to make a difference.

I believe that all four of the generations in the work place can work together without having any conflicts. Many professional facilities and companies have people of different age groups working together in the same field. There are many articles written by different people who say that studies show that there are many conflicts between the generations, while working together. The four different types of generations are the veterans, the baby boomers, the generation X, and the generation Y. I will talk of all their important characteristics and compare and contrast their qualities based on work ethics, education, and multi-tasking.

First, let us talk about Baby Boomers. It is not unusual for Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) like to be in control. Moreover, it is understandable why because they have years of experience. Baby Boomers attempt to develop a spirit of friendship with team members whose on-the-job experience is very small. Members of the Baby Boom Generation tend to have a strong work ethic, good communication skills, and emotional maturity. “The Baby Boomers are also one of the most educated generations.”(Colquitt, Lepine, &Wesson,2011,p.85) Boomers continue to hold most of the power and control. Trained as thinkers, they will continue to have surprising influence on the workplace for at least another two decades and this is why it is important to balance their input by clearly

Generations in the Workplace Informative Outline Introduction 1. Have you ever noticed your co-workers age groups? a. You will notice each age group has different characteristics. 2. This is because you work with different generations at work.

Baby boomers are known for being confident, strong-willed, and not being timid in the workplace. How do you deal with opposition at work with your fellow coworkers? More specifically, how do you deal with confrontation with coworkers who have different values and lesser work experience than you?

Kyles (2005) defines them as competitive, political, hardworking, and nonconformists. “Known for their workaholic ethic, Boomers will do whatever it takes to get the job done and get ahead, and they expect to be rewarded. They outnumber all generations and hold a majority of management-level positions. They are also approaching retirement and are heavily concerned with financial and job security” (Kyles, 2005, p. 54). This group is very hard working and also offers a lot of wisdom that can be beneficial to those of the younger generations.

Four generations are closely working together in the workplace today. This class will focus on the different shared experiences that shaped the generations and how it influences their working styles. Participants will learn to be aware of the different generational work styles, communication methods, and what motivates the different generations.