Are Gen X slackers or smart workers?
"Where people of goodwill get together and transcend their differences for the common good, peaceful and just solutions can be found even for those problems which seem most intractable." Nelson Mandela (age 89)
Next Level Results' generational solutions focus on Business Alignment: thru strategies, processes and systems. We offer a free 1.5 hour Alignment Audit to see if we are a fit to work together. Details at www.nextlevelresults.com/alignmentaudit
Boomer (age 45-64) bosses often complain about the work ethic of Gen X (age 29-44) as seriously lacking. In the Boomer paradigm; it is.
Traditionalists (age 65 +) worked to be able to survive. Boomers work to be able to be survive AND buy stuff to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Gen X sees work as "just a job"; mindless, often boring, and exhausting. They learned that depending on a job to survive is foolish. You can be laid off without warning due to no fault of your own. So, why kill yourself with 12 hour days and working on weekends? Life is too short!
Gen X Assets:
- Adaptable
- Technoliterate
- Independent
- Unintimidated by authority
- Creative
Liabilities:
- Impatient
- Poor People Skills
- Inexperienced
- Cynical
Startling?
1. There are 78 Million Boomers (age 45-63) and 40 Million Gen X (age 29-44). 50% fewer workers? fewer leaders? fewer working taxpayers? We are all going to be depending on Gen X in some fashion.
2. 80% of the new businesses started in the last three years were started by Gen X. This gives them the freedom to work when and how they want to with no guff from Boomer bosses.
2. Gen X (40 Million total) are the next batch of leaders...and they see leadership as a job...just a job. They won't be lured into it as magic, or prestige. To them, it isn't. They expect to be paid substantially more for the additional responsibility and hassle. If not, then they are just plain not interested.
Gen X as leaders are uniquely qualified for today's challenges; they challenge the status quo, they cut to the chase, and create a team of "friends" who work and play together. They are adaptable and independent leaders who disdain "politics" as a silly waste of time.
3. They have independent, visual brains with parallel processing. This means that they can answer a mindless email AND listen to you AND IM a friend AND glance at a text message about lunch ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Gen X brains are wired for multitasking due to the growth of television, video games, and cell phones.
Messages that motivate Gen X:
"Do it your way"
"We've got the newest hardware and software."
"There aren't a lot of rules here."
"We're not very corporate."
Gen X are not slackers. They are realists.
They value family more than Boomers. They were the kids left at home alone. They (about 45%) grew up in single parent households.
I appreciate their loyalty to their families and to themselves.
I was not as wise as they are. One stretch, I'd been traveling a lot in my career, my 8 year old son called me "Ellen." I said, "I'm mom to you." He replied, "You don't answer to mom." OUCH!!! That was a wake up call. I reordered my priorities, ASAP. That son, now 22, is a head taller than me with man muscles. And yes, I'm relieved to say he does call me mom; I had to earn it. :)
If you want Gen X to be aligned...
you will have to align with them.
Labeling Gen X as slackers will get you no where.
Valuing them as people with lives outside of work, paying them what they are worth, providing a fun, flexible, educational, atmosphere with a variety of projects with strong business alignment processes?
They will not only fully engage; they will tell all of their friends. You will have a workforce of independent, tech savvy people, who multitask and get an amazing amount of work done BEFORE 5 pm.
That, is working smart.
As always, let me know your thoughts.
I love hearing from you. :) Ellen
______________________________
Next Level Results, Inc.
Engage. Align. Accelerate.
Business MOST Unusual is an executive
briefing perfect as a setup for a change initiative, conference, customer service event, or off site.
Ellen Schulz is a dynamic speaker who challenges her audiences to succeed in a sea of corporate change. Her “no nonsense” approach reaches all levels of employees. Her crisp delivery and charming wit engulfs audiences and rivets them to their seats.
Jack Williams, US Department of Education
Call us to discuss your leadership and alignment challenges and brainstorm possible solutions, free of charge.
303 887 1034
Confidential Advisor to Senior Level Executives
