The Cranky Middle Manager Show #94- 4 Generations In the Workplace- Diane Thielfoldt
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #094 (MP3 10.8MB 31:30Min)
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Show Notes
0:00 Today we’re talking to Diane Thielfoldt about the 4 generations in the Western workplace.
This episode is dedicated to the Egyptian Pharaoh Narmer. It ain’t easy creating a dynasty. Anything that involves waiting for your old man to die so you can get the job is a recipe for trouble.
2:57 The quote of the week is from George Orwell who nicely sums up what we think about the generations before and after us- no matter which generations those happen to be.
4:13 Welcome Diane Thielfoldt of The Learning Cafe who is something of an expert on the different generations we find in the modern workplace. What are the 4 generations?
- The Silent Generation (even if they won’t shut up) born 1933 and 1945
- The Baby Boomers (my wife and I) born 1946-1964
- Generation X born 1965-1976
- The Millenials My daugher, Her Serene Highness) born 1977- 1998
9:23 For the first time we have at least 4 generations in the workplace. So what? They each have different opinions of what work is, what a good work ethic is and what it all means. How does each differ from the others? Well, there’s a huge difference between your parents and your kids…. what does loyalty mean? Who should they be loyal to- the company, the team, their friends????
16:02 this is the 50th anniversary of William Whyte’s The Organization Man... a great book if you haven’t read it only for how horrifying it is now. Our kids have no desire to be like that…and why should they?
18:00 Okay, so we spoiled our kids and now they’re in the workplace getting a reality pie in the face…. these chickens are roosting in YOUR nest
20:29 These stats are for the developed world… I admit I threw her a curve ball but what do you do in a country like Iran or India where over 50% of the workplace is under 30? And in China where almost an entire generation is only children?
25:30 So it turns out, I’m a Cusper…. on the line between boomers and gen Xers…and apparently we make the best managers. I like this guest already….. My wife, my daughter and I are completely different when it comes to technology so our house lives this stuff
Diane’s Resources
Check out www.learningcafe.net
Got Game and The Kids are Alright by John Beck and Mitchell Wade
Join us on Linkedin, check out the Instancy.net site, and don’t let the weasels get you down.
May 10th, 2007 at 7:10 am
I thought this was one of the better programs I’ve heard on generations in the workplace, but too much of this generation stuff can lead you away from the fact that there is more variation with a generation than between generations and discract you from managing your people one at a time.