Over the last couple weeks I have been talking about the generations.

My Maine keynote on the topic was covered by writer Jim Baumer:

{Live Blog of Generation NeXt Keynote}.

I also did a pre-keynote interview with the gang from JobsInME.com:

When I talk about this topic I talk about my own experience set.  I talk about My Generation.

The Millenials dominate this conversation. For good reason.  They are about twice the size of my generation and coming of age in a time of accelerated transformation and technological change. They bring a whole new set of expectations about an evolved work experience that is simply going to require organizations to advance work style design.

That is part of the story.  Ironically, my generation is incredibly suited to this new world of work.   Ferociously independent, adaptive, creative and resourceful, we are prepared to lead through a time of disruptive change. We also like to invent and don’t expect anyone to take care of us.  We realized quite some time ago that we would be responsible for our own career trajectory and wouldn’t be relying on a company to mange that for us.

A simple review of some recent leading Gen X business writing and thinking  provides an interesting prompt for those clinging on to the traditional corporate structure and hierarchy.  Have a look:

Escape from Cubicle Nation
The 4 Hour Work Week
Career Renegade
Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It
Crush It! Why Now Is The Perfect Time To Cash In On Your Passion

It will clearly prove more challenging for traditional companies to optimize and engage a generation of escape artists.

The generations do want many of the same things.  But I can tell you both from my own experience set and from the research that we define them quite differently.  I’ll shed some light on a few of those differences, the next generation drivers and what to do about them in my dinner keynote tonight at the AT&T Generations & Leadership event.

They asked me to keynote dinner.  They asked me if I could be funny.  This could be interesting.

Just don’t call me a slacker!

Posted in Employee Engagement, Leadership, Recruiting, Social Media, Uncategorized

Tags: Generation Next, Generation X, Generation Y, Generations, Millenials

What a week!  Returning to the Twin Cities from a 10 day trip that included two keynotes and a surprise weekend visit with Mom for Mother’s Day.

In spite of lost luggage (permanently), a sinus infection and miserable Minnesota weather I am grateful.  In spite of what I lost (some gear), what I gained is so much more.  I have received the generous and permanent gift of wisdom.

A weekend with my Mom typically includes red wine and reflection.  She is a talented teacher, artist, gardener, caregiver and conversationalist.  She listens. Careful and contemplative with her advice, it comes in small doses and is customized just for me.  It is a unique gift that I now suspect only she can give.  It had been a while since just the two of us spent this kind of time together.  Talking.  Laughing.  Smiling.  Sharing.  Learning.  It was a weekend I won’t soon forget.

On Wednesday morning I was departing the Samoset in Maine and upon entering my shuttle to the airport Richard reached out his hand and extended a warm welcome.  We had two hours of transition time and I cannot begin to explain why my headset wasn’t where it always is when I am on the move – in my ears.  As we set out Richard dove in and we spent a good bit of time talking about the topic of the keynote address I had just delivered, The Generations at Work.

Richard is a traditionalist.  A local.  A veteran.  A family man.  A man willing to sacrifice for a worthwhile cause.  He lived and learned.  Loved and lost.  We were gaining ground into territory that mattered.  Talking intently about risk and regret.  Where you find the most meaning and what really matters when it’s all said and done.  I was probing and Richard was on roll.  It was a shuttle ride I won’t soon forget.

During our conversation I felt my phone vibrating inside my jacket.  It was the middle of the day and I made the standard move we all make.  I was going for the mutli-task.  Check messages, respond and continue right on with Richard.  Then I stopped.

I thought for a moment about the content of my keynote.  The gaps that naturally exist given our unique life experiences.  I recognized, however briefly, that Richard certainly recalled a time where you didn’t text message when a man was talking to another man about the meaning of life. Where eye contact and undivided attention were signs of respect.  I left the phone alone.

A wise man told me that in life you typically end up regretting the things you don’t do more than you regret the mistakes you make.  He actually told me you learn quite a bit more from those mistakes so you are “ready for the next go around.”  He talked about treating people with respect and putting family first. He talked about the short amount of time we are here and that it was nice to see a young man doing something that mattered.

Thanks Richard.  I was listening.

Right before I left on this trip a close friend sent me the enclosed video on Wisdom.  I fell in love with it’s content and have watched it countless times.  The timing was perfect and I am quite certain it put me in the frame of mind to be aware and pay attention.

The gift of wisdom is all around us.  Sometimes you just have to stop and listen.

Posted in Leadership, News

Tags: Generations, Wisdom

This week I got to check out the new digs of Modern Survey and catch up with employee engagement guru and company president, Don MacPherson. It was exciting to witness the growth of Modern and take a tour of their new space.  The Modern Survey crew actually turned the office move into an entertaining video-series. Good stuff!

Don and I are in the early stages of planning a webinar event this spring on employee engagement mega-trends.  The rock solid research and shared insights should help shed light on the organizational opportunity to elevate performance and productivity.  We also plan on having a little fun! Details coming soon.

Our culture conversation this week spanned the full spectrum of engagement issues including managing the generations at work.  Don and his team have completed some exiting new generational research that I will support in my expanded keynote on Generation NeXt (yes, we deliver from the Xer perspective!). We align on the notion that there is increasing impetus for the organization and its leadership to improve communication and connect with employees on a personal level across every generation.  Employees increasingly want a voice in their work style design.  The trend is toward mass career customization or what I simply refer to as “my job, my way”. Progressive organizations are confronting employee opinion and considering upgrades in how to approach getting work done. On a personal note, I’ll add that the view from my office this morning is tough to beat!

While the core drivers for employee engagement are common across the generations, the definition of what the drivers mean differs greatly.  Don explains here:

Posted in Communications, Employee Engagement, Leadership, Uncategorized

Tags: Gen Y, Generation X, Generations, Millenials

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down over breakfast with Bridgeworks founder David Stillman, the generational expert, professional speaker and author of the new book The M-Factor:  How The Millenial Generation is Rocking the Workplace.   The  book is a must read for HR professionals, Leaders and Managers who need to raise awareness and develop competency specific to the challenges associated with 4 generations intersecting in our workplace.

As a fellow Xer who incorporates generational content into my own speaking/training business I can tell you the conflicts are real and on the rise.  Increasingly occurring between Xers like me and the eager, idealistic and opportunistic Millenials joining our organizations/teams.  We struggle because we also coveted much of what this emerging generation demands from work – meaning, flexibility, opportunities to develop and advance.  We often paid our dues, the “traditional” way.  Suited up, arriving at the office at 8 am and grinding through menial task assignments to prove ourselves with annual performance reviews as the standard feedback mechanism.

That approach is going….going…..gone.   Thank goodness.  Millenials are the fastest growing segment of our workforce and as we enter the next growth cycle they will contribute increasingly more value to our organizations and demand an increasingly improved work experience.  The M Factor offers excellent insights based on hard research to bridge gaps and foster improved connections and communication to favorably impact work culture.

The Bridgeworks Team offers programs, workshops and consulting specific to the generational issues organizations are confronting.  I also recently spent a little time with their Milleneial keynoter, Seth Mattison.  A speaker pro and authentic voice of Gen Y we had a nice exchange around the challenges and opportunity associated with the generational intersection.  Suffice it to say that reverse mentoring offers each generation an opportunity to better understand one another and improve collaboration.  And while Seth would rather make plans via text or Facebook and I tend to prefer a phone call or e-mail there is plenty of common ground.  What he covets in his career is trust, flexibility/autonomy and the organization that is willing to invest in him for what is coming next.  He wants to conquer the world.  Now.

So do I.  And if I were to ever head back to a more traditional corporate gig again, I will demand likewise.

Posted in Employee Engagement, Leadership

Tags: Gen Y, Generations, Millineials