Talkin’ ’bout My (Oops! The Next) Generation

This post was inspired by (but not a response to) MrW’s rant about “parent observation.”

Generation X – The now thirtysomethings

Generation Y – The now twentysomethings (the Millennials)

Generation Z – The babies to preteens of today (the Silent Generation)

WTF? When did this happen?

A few weeks ago I attended the annual Nevada Leadership Institute, and the conference organizer closed the two day event with an enlightening presentation on the Millennial Generation in the Workplace. As a school leader and Gen Xer, it is imperative that I fully understand this generation since I both supervise employees and educate teenagers who were born after 1980 and are graduating following 2000.

Managers, marketers, educators, and parents have been enlightened about the generation gap largely due to the generational discoveries of Neil Howe and William Strauss. Their ground-breaking work started with the publication of Generations in 1991. After receiving numerous inquiries from managers and leaders about how to solve strategic problems in their organizations, Howe and Strauss authored several additional books and articles and have co-f0unded LifeCourse Associates. Based on the philosophy that history is cyclical, Howe and Strauss believe the following:

During the presentation, a slide was shown of a cartoon featured in Millennials Rising which depicts a Millennial female in a t-shirt which reads: “You’re okay. I’m perfect.” The entire audience laughed when this slide was shown. However, this could not be farther from the truth.
Despite less than variable predications, Generation Y has demonstrated many unique characteristics which will undoubtedly make them more successful over the next several decades. While perusing several articles, I came across the chart below and decided it best summarizes the major differences between my generation and the Millennial generation.

Source: The Learning Café and American Demographics enterprisingmuseum 2003.

What do all Millennials have in common? They are the newbies in the professional workplace. This means they will need good mentors despite their intelligences and self-assuredness. They will thrive on personal attention in a formalized setting with an authoritative approach from their structured mentor. They will want their goals broken down into steps and resources and information at their disposal. They will want to work in groups (be part of a team).

TEAM = Together Everyone Achieves More … an excellent way to think about the Millennials and their eventual contributions to society and the world as we Gen Xers know it.

The conference presenter closed by encouraging the participants, Gen Xers in particular, to
remember that “it is okay to be okay” when mentoring millennials. I suppose the challenge will be to convince them that “it is okay to be okay” when they enter the workplace inquiring “What is Expected of Me?”

First, perhaps, best example of a true Millennial I can think of from pop culture is the fictional Jeremy Michael Duncan, an angst-ridden teenager who is navigating his way through life via his relationships with his family and friends, in the popular syndicated comic strip Zits. How do you spot him? I remember a past strip but cannot find it on the internet that depicted him with his iPod, laptop, hipster clothes (big shirt/hoodie, sagging jeans, huge shoes), cell phone (undoubtedly a Crackberry), digital camera, and designer coffee. His parents struggle to understand him, and he struggles to distance himself from their embarrassing acts.

And, speaking of understanding the Millennial and future generations, Monkey Boy arrives on Sunday evening. He is now 14.5 years old and will be a freshman starting August 15. He will graduate high school in 2011 and college in 2015. He and his children will be more a part of the New Silent Generation. What will their t-shirts read? “Silent But Deadly” or, perhaps, “What Goes Around Comes Around.”