Communicating Effectively to Different Generations
Learning the differences in communication preferences that vary between Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials can help you manage these generations more effectively. This session at PRIMA’s 2015 Annual Conference explored generational differences and how to best communicate to each of them.
Moderator: Sean Schaefer, Assistant Vice President at Genesis
Speaker: Candy Whirley, Owner of SBG Services, LLC
The current generations in the professional workforce are broken down into Baby Boomers (born 1946 – 1964), Generation X (born 1965 – 1980) and Millennials (born 1981 – 2000). Effective communication occurs through the following five stages:
1. Awareness
- Boomers – Discuss business need allowing opportunity for questions.
- Gen X – Discuss business need providing background and facts.
- Millennials – Convey personal and business benefits.
2. Understanding
- Boomers – Create shared meaning and convey common goals.
- Gen X – Paint a picture of the future and describe goals.
- Millennials – Collaborate through discussion forums and open dialogue.
3. Acceptance
- Boomers – Encourage questions and reply objectively to challenges.
- Gen X – Involve people in exploring the impact and benefits.
- Millennials – Coach, mentor and provide immediate and ongoing feedback.
4. Alignment
- Boomers – Build support for behavior, organizational goals, business results and rewards.
- Gen X – Clarify expected behavior, organizational goals, business results and rewards.
- Millennials – Illustrate expected behavior, organizational goals, business results and rewards.
5. Commitment
- Boomers – Foster ownership, buy in and accountability.
- Gen X – Model desired behaviors to gain responsibility and accountability.
- Millennials – Support ongoing dialogue to gain responsibility and accountability.