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At the core of the discussion is an unparalleled phenomena: For the fi rst time in our nation’s history there are four generations working side by side— Traditionalists (born 1922–1943), Baby Boomers (born 1944–1964), Generation X (born 1965–1980), and Millennials (born 1981–2002). With such a wide range in age and world view, it’s easy to understand generational clashes at work. Yet age is just one factor when attempting to dissect the disconnect. According to Dr. Arin Reeves, J.D., author of T e Next IQ: T e Next Generation of Intelligence for 21st Century Leaders, technology, our dependence on it, and the accelerated rate at which it is transforming our world also lie at the heart of the matter. “Technology is moving so fast that it has literally


changed the way people think,” Reeves says. “Our neurological networks literally have changed how we learn. We process information so quickly now. For instance, if a Boomer calls a Millennial associate and the associate emails back, the Boomer might think that’s disrespectful. But Millennials, who don’t use the phone because they prefer emailing and texting, think that if the Boomer picked up the phone then it must be really important, so their goal


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is to turnaround the information as soon as possible, which is through email. T is is how an innocent misinterpretation becomes real confl ict down the road, and technology is the root. It is the cause of disappearing boundaries and has totally erased the 9-to-5 workday.”


BEHIND THE LABELS


When attempting to understand the barriers of cross-generational communication, Reeves says to start with each generation’s outlook but move beyond the typecasting. Traditionalists, with a pop- ulation of 75 million (25 percent of whom are still in the workforce), are loyal, a trait heavily infl uenced by world events that took shape when they were coming of age during the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War. Traditionalists tend to prefer more formal styles of communication, such as memos, over-the-phone conversations, and straightforward content with details and data. In other words, keep your PowerPoint presentations simple. Boomers are generally viewed as workaholics who


favor a top-down approach at the workplace. For Boomers, success is critical, and they’ll put in the time and energy to achieve it. At 80 million, they are the largest population in the workplace. Infl uenced by the war in Vietnam and the Civil Rights Movement, they want to make a diff erence and have built their careers working at one or two fi rms. Gen-Xers and Millennials, at populations of


46 million and 76 million, respectively, are hard- working yet not afraid to express their desire for better work-life balance. Gen-Xers grew up as latch- key kids and are the product of high divorce rates. T ey are widely credited with shaping the culture of “instant results” as the generation that ushered in our modern-tech nation. T ey are tech-savvy and communicate by texting, email, and cellphone. Millennials are interested in work that has both professional and personal fulfi llment and are highly optimistic. T ey are entering the workforce at the height of technological advancement and communicate primarily by texting and email.


DIVERSITY & THE BAR® MAY/JUNE 2012


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