In my most recent MBA class on leadership, we covered generational differences. We learned that there are certain workplace-related traits that can be ascribed to Baby Boomers, for example, that is not a part of the Gen-X or Gen-Y experience. As a leader, one may therefore relate differently to employees of one generation as opposed to how they relate to members of other generations.
For example, regarding relationship to authority (taken from the Lake Forest leadership presentation on generational relations):
- Those of the “Veteran” generation (born 1935-45) will generally respect authority and hierarchy. They generally want to be told what to do, and will deliver on explicit direction.
- Those of the “Boomer” generation (born 1946-59) will generally challenge authority. This is the Vietnam/disenchantment generation, and therefore want a more democratic organization.
- Those of the “Gen-X” generation (born 1960-79) are generally unimpressed by authority. This is the latchkey generation that had to figure things out on their own, and they are the first generation to want to know what people in authority can do for them.
- Those of the “Gen-Y” generation, or Millennials (born 1980-2001) are capable of respect for authority, but only such authority as can demonstrate competence in their eyes. This is the generation of immediate gratification, and wants those in authority to show them what they can do for them right now!
Jon Stewart
With this background, I’d like to introduce a fascinating video clip featuring Jon Stewart on a youth vote panel in 2000. You’ll notice that the clip seems dated, and Stewart’s persona is a little more raw and unguarded from what we see in current times. Watch the clip, and then join me back for a discussion on some of the points…
This clip is a great example of a Gen-Xer (Stewart) talking to a Millennial (the woman to his immediate right). Stewart displays a condescending attitude to that entire generation which may or may not be deserved, but in terms of how one the generational attitudes that both people express, it fits right in with the model on how these generations regard one another.
Here are a couple of points:
1) The point about Gen-Y’s brand agnosticism is perfectly valid. People born after 1980 do wield a disproportionate amount of consumer power simply because they are the generation most open to dumping their current brand in favor of another. They feel the same way about the places they work, and will change companies on a whim.
2) The presentation from which I got this information has a slide called “Connecting with Y-ers,” which suggests things like “be encouraging,” “coach instead of tell,” “give them attention,” “give them recognition,” “use irony and humor,” etc. I’m going to diverge from the presentation at this point and say that this is bullshit. I’m more in line with Stewart’s line of thinking: just show competence. Make good stuff. He enjoys a particularly young demographic without necessarily trying to “speak the Gen-Y language.” Although, to be fair, Stewart is a fan of the more-than-occasional dick joke, and that’s going to have a slightly younger draw.
Let me know what you think. And please share the discussion using the links below. Although, if you’re from Gen-Y, I’m apparently going to have to say pretty, pretty please…
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Very interesting! You’ve inspired me to blog about this…I totally agree with you about the importance of “making good stuff”. I’m a teacher and find that kids respect you far more if you show integrity and honesty rather than trying to relate to them as if you were their age – which smacks of desperation and “Cool Dad/Mum syndrome”.
For me Jon Stewart is rather like a father figure for the 21st century – he stays in shape and has retained a youthful exuberance and integrity which resonates with his audience.
As a Gen-Yer, I was ashamed as to the person they chose to represent on this panel. She wasn’t the best canidate for this discussion and was quite a bit out of her league. I do enjoy Stewart’s comedy and discussions in gerneral, however I will say that I strongly disagreed with his statement that our generation is the only one who has been so brand centered. It is called marketing and it has been occuring for decades. In reference to the Coke commercial is their discussion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib-Qiyklq-Q&feature=related
Hmm…I see one age group in this commercial, much like the more recent Coke commercials…I do not agree that the proper English language should be changed for a certain group. It was argued at one point that teachers should do this in schools,using slang or allow texting language into writing etc. That is absoultely ludicrous! How would these students become educated properly? While working in schools, I see current highschoolers who are being coddled to an exceptional degree and I wonder what their work ethic will be like. When I told a parent that students would not complete an assignment because it was “only a daily grade”, the parent replied, “That is a great life skill. It is called prioritizing.” I had to really bite my tongue from saying, “No, that is called a lack of work eithic. It is called working at McDonalds in the near future!” Each previous generation sees something lacking in the following generation, but in the end, I believe that the entire group will never be lost. It is simply a sign of the parenting styles and a reaction to what is going on around the world. By the way, “pretty,pretty please” is condescending, not encouraging. =)