Matures, Boomers, Gen-X and Millenials Mix it Up
by Lorna Domke
Changes in style and outlook from one generation to the next is nothing new. But really taking a conscious look at those differences and applying that to the people you work with is something else altogether. At many conservation-related organizations today, the typical color of hair is not brown, blond, black or red—it’s gray. And job expectations of young new hires are very different from those ready to retire.
Bob Wendover, who is Managing Director for the Center of Generational Studies was one of the three key speakers at the recent Missouri Natural Resources Conference. He got people laughing a lot (mostly at themselves) in describing some typical traits for the Matures (born before 1946), the Boomers (1946-64), the Gen-Xers (1965-80) and the Millenials (1981-99). A few general themes he noted about each: Matures are dedicated to a job once they take it, place duty before pleasure, believe patience is a virtue; Boomers live to work, are willing to go into debt betting on future income, tend to be team and process oriented; Generation Xers work to live rather than live to work, having a sense of contribution while having fun is valued, see job as a contract; Millenials have been conditioned to live in the moment and get quick rewards, earn money for immediate consumption, question everything.
He described the social context in which different generations came of age and how that may have broadly influenced their outlook. (No surprise that Gen-Xers saw their boomer parents working hard while they came home to an empty house—and now seek a balance of work and family life/life outside of work.)
Wendover’s website has a lot of interesting ideas, including a suggested reading list. (Who knew there is an “American Society of Baby Boomers”?) The idea is not to typecast people, but to better understand them…and ourselves.
February 14th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Great summary of the generational differences in attitudes. My company does a lot of work in the area of generational issues in the workplace, it is fascinating work – and frustrating for many boomer managers who struggle to connect with their younger colleagues. I’d be interested to hear thoughts on how emerging attitudes are likely to affect the focus (or lack of focus) on conservation in Missouri.
March 19th, 2008 at 4:03 am
very nice web site. My English is not so good, so I do not understandt it well, but it seems very good. Thanks
June 4th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
There is an interesting thing happening here. I was able to see the tie in from each generation to the next and also see the evolution of the ideas and concepts that drive each generation.
There is an outgrowth here from the products developed by the generations and their effects on the subsequent generations as well.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:04 am
The problem is this: for a transitional period in the next decade or so, you’ll have four generations in the workplace — the Silents, the Boomers, Generation X and Millenials.
October 13th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Joel Smith – Retired Boomer in Mexico
I reading this blog post, I am soooo glad that I retired early and moved to Mexico (Lake Chapala).
I fully appreciate the cultural differences of the various generations but trust me they are nothing compared to cultural and language differences of another country.
One Less Boomer to Manage, Retired in Mexico.
Joel Smith
September 1st, 2009 at 6:42 pm
It’s interesting to determine that I’m generation X (would you beleive- missed it by that much), but I don’t think like one. Perhaps it was my proximity to the cut off date- 1967. Perhaps it is because the world prostrates itself at the feet of the boomers. Perhaps it’s my revulsion at the millenials additude towards work and life in general that forces me to seek the comfort of the sane boomers. All I can say about it for certain is that I’m so very glad they are my primary customers, and not these youngsters, even my generational peers.
October 18th, 2009 at 5:10 am
Wow…the generational differences were hit right on the head in this post. I completely see this being the difference between my parents generation (Matures) and mine (gen X). They’ve always been so much more grown up at my age than I am at my age LOL. And they have stuck to the same job for decades. I have given up on a job all together and started my own business because I don’t like working for others. They think I’m nuts for doing that and I think they are nuts for sticking with a job they don’t even like LOL.
November 10th, 2009 at 7:17 am
How interesting.
It’s possible to see similar profiling traits coming to the surface when people are faced with personal debt problems.
Matures often speak of their deep personal shame in becoming insolvent, and will do almost anything to avoid what the see as the public humiliation of bankruptcy.
Boomers and the Gen-Xers tend to feel a deep sense of failure in their responsibilities, rather than recognising themselves as being victims of their circumstances, but then struggle less with the idea of seeking help.
Whereas Millenials in the main appear to be free of these feelings, and are much less traumatised in petitioning for their own bankruptcy – often blaming the banking system for allowing them to become hopelessly insolvent in the first place.