Disconnect

Marilyn Moats Kennedy
MoatsKennedy.com
847/251-1661
Age Cohorts: Workplace Characteristics
Pre-Boomer
Boomer
Cusper
Buster
Netster
1934-1945
1946-1959
1960-1968
1969-1978
1979-1988
Traditional
work ethic
Money/work
Ethic
Money/
principle
Principle/
Satisfaction
Principle/
Satisfaction
Work first
Work first
Some of both
Lifestyle first
Lifestyle first
Born to manage
Expect to
manage
Lead and follow
No need to lead
Lead if necessary
Loyal to employer
Loyal to
employer
Some of both
Loyal to skills
Loyal to skills
Independent but
conventional
Care deeply what
others think
Some of both
Don't care what
others think
Care little
what others think
Value working well
with others
Want others to
work with them
Want others to
work with them
Prefer to work
alone
Will tolerate
small groups
Technically
competent
Technically
challenged
Technically
Challenged
Technically savvy
State-of-the-art
Believe in the
mission
Lip service to
Mission
Care about
mission
Must have
mission
Must have
Mission
Strong chain
of command
Chain of
Command
Either way
Individual first
Individual first
Want to win
I win, you lose
Want to win
I win, you win
I win, you win
© Marilyn Moats Kennedy 2012
Age Cohorts - Lifestyle Characteristics
Pre-Boomer
1934-1945
Boomer
1946-1959
Cusper
1960-1968
Buster
1969-1978
Netster
1979-1988
Work hard,
save money;
Two wks.
Vacation
Work hard, play
Work hard, play Work hard if it
hard, spend hard, hard, worry
doesn't
interfere; save
talk about it
about money
money
I like it, it's O.K.
Do you
really like it?
Will others?
Should I
really like it?
Will others?
I like it; I don't I like it;
care what you think small
think
I care about
religion
Religion is
socially
acceptable
Religion is
a hobby
What is
religion?
Comparative
religions
Exercise
Exercise
if forced
for b Exercise for body Exercise is a
definition
duty
Exercise for
mental health
What's your
second sport?
Buy a
decent house
Reclaim the
inner city
I like living
with my
parent(s)
Buy the most
house you can
Do I need
a house?
Good grades;
make others
pay; save
money
Motivation Across Age Cohorts
Pre-Boomer
Boomer
Cusper
Buster
Netster
1934-1945
1946-1959
1960-1968
1969-1978
1978-1988
Money
More Money
Do well by
doing good
Time off
Time off
Responsibility
Promotion
Meeting
organizational
goals
Meeting own
goals
Portable skills
training
Public
recognition
Public
recognition
Recognition
from boss
Recognition
from boss
Meeting own
goals
Accomplishment
Peer
recognition
Bonuses
Skills training
Stock options
Desire to lead
Desire for
subordinates
Stock options
Stock options
Mentoring
Control
Control
Organizational
loyalty
Loyalty to
self
Mentoring
Communication Styles Across Age Cohorts
BOOMERS
BUSTERS
"We're invincible as a team."
"I work best alone."
"I want, think, would like . . ."
"I need."
Softened style: "I'd love it if you . . ."
Blunt style: "Just do it . . ."
Long preambles
Abrupt speech patterns
Care deeply what others think.
Care little about what others think.
Like to process and talk about ideas and
issues.
"Just tell me what you want done and I'll do it."
Highly value participation and consensus.
Do not participate, attend meetings, or need to
hear others' opinions..
Want people to want to do something, to
want be part of the group
Want people to get the result as quickly and
quietly as possible; often astonished by
employee feelings or discontent.
Believe people can be motivated by a
stirring, well-expressed idea.
Believe motivation is pushing on the end of a
string.
Recognition means a great deal; want
acceptance, popularity, group identity.
Doesn't work and isn't needed. "I know what
kind of job I"m doing. If a boss recognizes my
work, that's nice but it's frosting on the cake."
What Makes Them Apply?
Pre-Boomer
Boomer
Cusper
Buster
Netster
1934-1945
1946-1959
1960-1968
1969-1978
1978-1988
Feels needed
Feels wanted
Can do well
Sees learning
by doing good opportunity
Sees learning
opportunity
Size and
quality of
company
Prestige of
company
How company How company
is ranked
is different
How company
is different
Guilt: must
perform
service
Guilt: must
Want to
perform service perform
service
Want to
perform
service
Want to
perform
service
Job sounds
irresistible
Job sounds
irresistible
Job sounds
interesting
Job sounds
interesting
Ads that
Ads that list top Ads that give
summarize job ten reasons
more details
Ads that tell
whole story
Ads that tell
whole story
Job will
gratify ego
Job will
enhance ego
Job content
appeals
Merits of job
appeals
Merits of job
appeals
Money
Money
Competitive
wage
Money neutral
Money neutral
Job sounds
interesting
The Medium Is the Message
Pre-Boomer
Boomer
Cusper
Buster
Netster
1934-1945
1946-1959
1960-1968
1969-1978
1978-1988
Network/cable
TV
Network/
cable TV
Metro
newspapers
Metro
newspapers
Believe generally Believe
accurate
sometimes
accurate
MTV
MTV
Web
Metro
newspapers
Local news
Local news
Believe rarely
accurate
Believe much
is spin
Believe rarely
accurate
Believe
rarely fair
Believe
rarely fair
NPR
NPR
Believe
generally fair
Believe
Believe
generally fair rarely fair
Talk radio
FM radio
Track trends
through fashion
mags
Track trends Track trends
Track trends
through
through general through the
fashion mags mags
Web
FM music
Track trends
through the
Web
Attitudes Towards Office Politics
Pre-Boomer
Boomer
Cusper
Buster
Netster
1934-1945
1946-1959
1960-1968
1969-1978
1979-1988
Half game,
half denial
Ignore it and it What is
will disappear politics
anyway?
Pretend it
doesn’t exist
Competitive
fun and games
Power building Power building Control of self
No need for
power
No need for
power
Love/hate
relationship
Love/hate
relationship
Tolerate all
sides
Loathe all
games
Loathe all
games
Necessary to
success
Necessary to
success
Value of it
questionable
Who cares? I’ll
succeed alone
Who cares? I’ll
succeed alone
Management
matters
Management + Survival and
money matters esteem matter
There are no
There are no
career benefits career benefits
Want to know
Need to know
No need to
know
Should know
No need to
know
A Look at the Next Generation
1989+
Work
Lifestyle
Leisure
A Place to
Stand
Serial career
choices
Formality
returns
Urban vs.
Suburban
Surfing the
Web
Team
sports/fitness
U.S. New and
World Report
Consumer
reports
Sports, not
part-time
jobs
Internships
Less space;
less cost
Volunteering
Life sciences
Technology Environment
Rules
Influences
Knowing is
everything
Relationships
Strong
family ties
Play
dates/move
in groups
Peers more
than
parents
Grades
equal
income
Questions?
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