The Four Generation PDF

Nexstar –
Four Generations
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Apprentice to Master:
• Senior generations assume the younger
generations will define success the same
ways they have.
• So the senior generations then prescribe a
“pay your dues” process to achieve that
same “success.”
• The senior generation often thinks that the
younger generations will never need to
work as hard as they did to become
“successful.”
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Ages (approximate)…
Matures Baby Boomer Gen X Millennial > 62 yo
43 to 61 yo
28 to 42 yo
< 27 yo
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6000000
5000000
4000000
3000000
2000000
1000000
1920
1925
1930
1935
1940
1945
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
0
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A Glance into the Future:
Theory:
The oldest, wealthiest, and most
visible members of a generation
define the behavior and attitude
for those that follow.
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The Matures (born prior to 1946)
• Duty, honor, country
• Dedication, sacrifice
• Conformity, blending, unity
– “We First”
• Patience
• Hard, hard times then prosperity
• National pride
• Doing a good job was most
important
• Age = Seniority
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The Baby Boomers (’46 to ’64)
• Work ethic = Worth. “Workaholic”
• Competitive
• Success is largely visible –
trophies, plaques, certificates,
etc.
• Optimistic
• Consumers
• Defined by their work
• We are the world,We are the children
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Generation X (’65 to ’79)
• Question authorities.
• Their heroes are people they’ve met;
that they know.
• Saw lifelong employment end – don’t believe it will
happen to them.
• Can be cynical. Can be pessimistic.
• Time horizons are shorter than the Boomers or
Matures.
• Time is a currency.
• Carpe Diem approach – Seize the day!
• “Prove it to me.”
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Millennials (Since 1980)
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•
•
•
•
•
•
Individuals w/ a group orientation (team?)
Optimistic
Programmed. Well looked after.
Hard time focusing on anything.
Busy & stressed at a young age.
Raised as their parent’s friends.
Are not adults. Are not adolescents.
“Adultolescent” phase.
• “Future” is very short term.
• Huge goals. Clueless on the execution.
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Millennials
“Adultolescent” phase of life
aka
Peter Pan-demonium
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Median Age of First Marriage
1970 2005
Men
23.2
27.1
Women
20.8
25.8
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Median Age of Women for First Childbirth:
25
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23
22
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2003
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Who has figured them out?
Q: What do their
messages have in
common?
A: A strong sense of
individuality
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Millennials
Remember the “Baby
on Board” signs?
Well, they’re here.
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Nexstar–
Four Generations
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Time:
Matures & Boomers – Visibility. Hours.
“Face time.” “On the team.”
“Whatever it takes.” “Customer
comes first.”
Gen X & Millennial: “What does it
matter when, from where, or how
long I work as long as I get the job
done?”
Success = Balance
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Time:
Matures & Boomers – “The company
and our customer’s needs own my
time.”
Gen X & Millennial: “I own my time and
I give the company what is needed to
get the job done satisfactorily.”
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Employee Retention
Today the key to good retention is
NOT about hiring the right
people.
Today the key is to be the right
person.
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A Good Team
Matures: Produce quality. Individual
recognition is not the goal. Team
members work nearby.
Boomers: Long hours together. Committed
to one another & the job. “Whatever it
takes.”
Gen X: Each team member has a specific
role.
Millennial: “What will I get out of this
team?”
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Best Practices
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Best Practices
• Vacation Card – Midwestern
Mechanical
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Best Practices
• Vacation Card – Midwestern
Mechanical
• “How do you want to be rewarded?”
- Chubb Brothers Insurance.
• Advocate Program – (replacing
Mentor programs) – AREVA
• Rewarding with paid days to work at
non-profits. – Greenberg Traurig
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Best Practices:
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
•Loyalty to a person
•Instant Gratification
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Nexstar –
Four Generations
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Fads
Trends
Principles
David Zach
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Bear in mind…
That adulthood is taking a bit longer to
happen today. But it will happen.
That Socrates complained about the
younger generations. So we’ve been
here before.
That your parents’ generation looked at
you when you were young and also said,
“Is this what we have to work with?
Well, so much for the future.”
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Nexstar–
Four Generations
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