How to get along with Boomers, GenXers and Millennials | Mary Donohue | TEDxToronto
TLDRThe speaker explores why work dissatisfaction is prevalent, with 57% of our waking hours spent at work and 70% feeling disengaged. They delve into generational communication as a key factor affecting workplace experience, highlighting the unique drivers and communication styles of Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. By understanding and adapting to these generational differences, the speaker suggests we can improve workplace engagement and reduce stress, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging legacy, visual cues, action-based thinking, and technology as generational soothers.
Takeaways
- 😀 Work dissatisfaction significantly impacts life, with 57% of waking time spent at work and 70% of workers disengaged.
- 😀 Improving intergenerational communication at work can reduce stress and make work less unpleasant.
- 😀 The workplace now has multiple generations working together, creating unique communication challenges.
- 😀 Boomers, born before 1960, are focused on legacy creation and prefer auditory communication.
- 😀 Gen X, born 1960-1980, value independence, are visual communicators, and often feel overlooked in the workplace.
- 😀 Millennials, born 1980-2000, thrive on development, transparency, and action-based communication.
- 😀 Gen Z, born after 2000, are highly connected through technology, prefer concise communication, and fear being alone.
- 😀 Boomers appreciate verbal acknowledgments of their contributions and prefer to talk things out.
- 😀 Gen X prefers visual aids like PowerPoint and whiteboards and are motivated by job security.
- 😀 Millennials seek structure, value their opinions being heard, and excel in flexible, non-traditional work environments.
- 😀 Gen Z uses technology as a comfort and prefers brief, direct communication, relying on their phones for social connection.
Q & A
What percentage of our waking time is spent at work according to the script?
-57% of our waking time is spent at work.
What percentage of people are disengaged from work according to Gallup?
-70% of people are disengaged from work.
What is the main focus of the speaker's research?
-The speaker's research focuses on why work sucks and what can be done about it, specifically studying generational communication and the new rules of engaging each generation at work.
How does the speaker suggest improving communication between generations at work?
-The speaker suggests that improving communication between generations at work can reduce stress and make work less unpleasant.
What is the main driver for Boomers according to the speaker?
-The main driver for Boomers is legacy creation.
How do Boomers process information according to the speaker?
-Boomers process information in an auditory capacity, meaning they think in terms of words.
What is the main driver for Gen X according to the speaker?
-The main driver for Gen X is money, work, and the fear of losing it.
How do Gen X process information according to the speaker?
-Gen X processes information visually.
What is the main driver for Millennials according to the speaker?
-The main driver for Millennials is development.
How do Millennials process information according to the speaker?
-Millennials process information in terms of actions.
What generation is described as being online since the fifth grade and having a love for technology?
-Millennials are described as being online since the fifth grade and having a love for technology.
What generation is said to have grown up with mass murder and global terrorism threats?
-Gen Z is said to have grown up with mass murder and global terrorism threats.
What is the suggested way to remember the generational differences when communicating at work?
-The suggested way is to do the 'generational boogie': step back and acknowledge your own generation, step forward and recognize the other's generation, step right and left to understand their different soothers, and remember to adapt communication accordingly.
Outlines
😔 The Impact of Disengagement at Work
The first paragraph discusses the negative impact of poor work experiences on life, highlighting statistics that show a significant portion of people are disengaged from their jobs. The speaker delves into the reasons why work might be unsatisfying, focusing on the importance of generational communication. They argue that improving communication between different generations at work can alleviate stress and make work more enjoyable. The speaker's research emphasizes the need for understanding generational differences in communication styles and leadership responses, especially in the context of evolving technology and its impact on our ability to connect with one another.
👵👦 Understanding Generational Communication Styles
This paragraph explores the communication preferences and historical influences of different generations in the workplace. It starts with the Boomer generation, characterized by their auditory processing and love for conversation, influenced by their upbringing during times of significant historical events and the dominance of newspapers and radio. The speaker provides examples of how to engage with Boomers effectively, such as acknowledging their legacy and using auditory sentence patterns. The paragraph also touches on Gen X, who are described as independent and entrepreneurial, but stressed by economic uncertainties, with a preference for visual information processing and a love for technology.
📚 Millennials and Gen Z: Adapting to a Changing World
The third paragraph continues the discussion on generational differences, focusing on Millennials and Gen Z. Millennials are portrayed as an adaptive generation that thrives on development and structure, having been raised in a world of imposed order and technological advancement. They are described as distrustful due to global events during their formative years and are shown to have a preference for action-based processing and technology. Gen Z is introduced as the first generation to grow up entirely in a technologically advanced world, with a fear of being alone and a need for constant connection, using technology as a soother. The speaker suggests ways to engage with these generations, such as providing structure and detail, and avoiding traditional work environments.
🕺 The Generational Boogie: A Step-By-Step Guide to Better Communication
The final paragraph concludes the script with a practical guide to recognizing and adapting to generational differences in the workplace. The speaker suggests a physical exercise, the 'generational boogie,' to help remember the distinct characteristics of each generation, such as their preferred communication styles and soothers. The aim is to encourage individuals to step back and acknowledge their own generational identity, step forward to recognize the differences in others, and adapt their communication and leadership approaches accordingly to foster a more harmonious and productive work environment.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Generational Communication
💡Boomers
💡Gen X
💡Millennials
💡Gen Z
💡Auditory Communication
💡Visual Communication
💡Kinesthetic Communication
💡Legacy Creation
💡Technological Adaptation
Highlights
57% of our waking time is spent at work, highlighting the importance of job satisfaction.
70% of workers are disengaged from work, indicating a significant issue in workplace engagement.
The study focuses on generational communication as a key factor in improving workplace satisfaction.
Bad communication is identified as a primary reason for workplace dissatisfaction.
Improving intergenerational communication at work can reduce stress and improve satisfaction.
The unique challenges of having multiple generations working together in modern teams.
The impact of technology on our ability to communicate generationally effectively.
Understanding generational differences in leadership and workplace technology responses.
Each generation has unique drivers and motivations in the workplace.
Boomers, born before 1960, are characterized by a focus on legacy creation.
Gen X, born 1960-1980, are independent and motivated by financial stability.
Millennials, born 1980-2000, are adaptive and driven by development and structure.
Gen Z, born from 2000, are technologically adept and seek connection and action.
Boomers process information auditorily and prefer word-based entertainment.
Gen X processes information visually and thrives with visual tools like PowerPoint.
Millennials are keen on actions and process information through doing and creating.
Gen Z uses technology as a soother and processes information through interaction.
The importance of acknowledging Boomers' legacy and using auditory communication.
Engaging Gen X requires visual tools and addressing their fear of job loss.
Millennials need to be asked for their opinions and provided with structured tasks.
Gen Z should be given the freedom to innovate and not confined to traditional work hours.
The 'Generational Boogie' as a method to remember and apply generational communication strategies.
Transcripts
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