360 Series: Four ‘generations’ share the workplace

story and photos by Linda Kaufenberg
[email protected]

Generational differences was the topic for March’s 360 Leadership Series by Judith Tavano during the lunch hour at Phoenix Expo Center.

Tavano is coordinator of professional development programs and The Human Resource Management (SHRM) Learning System course for the University of Arkansas Global Campus.

Why does Tavano believe she knows something about generational diversity, and who does she want to share it with you? Simple: she has studied generational diversity for the better part of a decade and believes the more we know about our generation and the generations preceding and/or are following us, the better our working relationships, our personal relationships and our overall communications activities will be.

The 360 Leadership Series was created by a group of John Brown University graduate alumni whose mission is to provide professional development, networking opportunities, and spiritual growth for Arkansas River Valley professionals.

Tavano noted that in today’s workforce, there are four generations working side by side more than ever before. Before 2008, the assumptions were that people born before 1946 would be out of the workforce. But when the economy took a downward turn, older workers remained on the job. This has created a gap with fewer openings for younger people entering the workforce.

In 2000, the workforce was divided:
Traditionalist (1900-1945) — 13%
Baby Boomer (1946-1964) — 48%
Generation X (1965-1975) — 22%
Generation Y (1976-1994) — 16%

In 2010, the workforce was divided:
Traditionalist (1900-1945) — 3%
Baby Boomer (1946-1964) — 37%
Generation X (1965-1975) — 22%
Generation Y (1976-1994) — 38%

“Generational diversity affects us all and all we do. It’s no longer a one-size-fits-all world. Our young colleagues, children and grandchildren have grown up in worlds totally different from our own, and their expectations of life have been formed accordingly. They tell us those expectations every day through their behavior," Tavano explained.

She talked about generational gaps in communications (what are they saying and meaning?), in technology (all those over 50 as analog thinkers and those younger than 50 as digital thinkers) and in dress (what does it matter?)

What makes us so different, according to Tavano, are the personal experiences that drive our expectations and ultimately our behavior. And those expectations are carried into the workplace and influence behavior.

“We look and make judgments on other generations based on our experiences, expectations and behavior. We just need to understand how to work with those who are not from our generation, guide them and communicate with them. It will be their world in the not too distant future, and in some ways, it already is," added Tavano.

Continuing, Tavano said: “These young people are not the enemy of the mature; they are fruit of our labors. Nature compels them to rebel against us while at the same time it drives us to want to get closed to them. Studying the generations and what makes each so unique will help us as we try to co-exist gracefully."