What does it mean to work with a generation? What is a generation? A generation is generally understood as people who were born in a similar time frame, who have experienced similar life situations, share similar views, attitudes and maybe values which differ from other generations. Great events, traumatic events and unique situations define our experiences and alter out thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Examples of such accounts can include WWI, Depression, bombing of Pearl Harbor, WWII, Korean War, Polio vaccination, assassinations of the Kennedys and King, Walk on the Moon, Vietnam War, computer revolution, Twin Towers, shootings in schools, Super bowls, Presidential elections, special New Year’s Eve parties and so on. My grandmother grew up in the depression and was concerned about such things as lights being on in a room that no one was in and running the water full blast – and to me, these seem inconsequential, even trivial. The events such as those listed above can influence us in positive and negative ways and in the way we think about other nationalities and religions, the workplace, values on how we parent, use of technologies, education, the value we place on others, and even how we try to protect ourselves.

1. Leading Across Generations: Are You Ready?
Rex Gatto Ph.D., BCC
What does it mean to work with a generation? What is a generation? A generation is generally
understood as people who were born in a similar time frame, who have experienced similar life
situations, share similar views, attitudes and maybe values which differ from other generations.
Great events, traumatic events and unique situations define our experiences and alter out
thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Examples of such accounts can include WWI, Depression,
bombing of Pearl Harbor, WWII, Korean War, Polio vaccination, assassinations of the Kennedys
and King, Walk on the Moon, Vietnam War, computer revolution, Twin Towers, shootings in
schools, Super bowls, Presidential elections, special New Year’s Eve parties and so on. My
grandmother grew up in the depression and was concerned about such things as lights being on
in a room that no one was in and running the water full blast – and to me, these seem
inconsequential, even trivial. The events such as those listed above can influence us in positive
and negative ways and in the way we think about other nationalities and religions, the workplace,
values on how we parent, use of technologies, education, the value we place on others, and even
how we try to protect ourselves.
I remember a time when a traveler could walk through an airport leisurely to get to the gate just
in time to board a plane. I remember a time when teachers would hand out mimeograph paper
tests, when typewriters had a ball, answering machines had tapes, Kodak cameras were used and
children learned to write in cursive with a pencil. These are all the things today’s children will
not likely experience. Change is occurring quickly and technology is replacing workers and those
that remain are required to have new skill sets.
Definitions of The Five Generations

2. The following are the five generations in the workplace that overlap or will do so in the
workplace.
Traditionalist Characteristics
(Also called the Silent Generation)
(1922-1945)
2% of the work force
• Respect for rules/authority
• Conformity
• Loyal
• Hard worker
• Dedicated/disciplined
• Frugal
Boomer Characteristics
(Parents primarily Traditionalists)
(1946-1964)
29% of the work force
• Personal gratification
• More conventional
• Competitors/innovators
• Silent generation/individualism
• Optimism
• Workaholics/achievement driven
Generation X Characteristics
(Parents primarily Boomers)
(1965-1980)
34% of the work force
• Entrepreneurs/autonomy

3. • Self-reliant/productive
• Realist
• Fun
• Informal/adaptable
• Results oriented
Generation Y Characteristics
(Also called the Millennial Generation)
(Parents primarily Boomers and Gen Y)
(1981-1997)
34% of the work force
• Achievement oriented
• Socially conscience
• Optimistic
• Confident/comfortable with change
• Respect for Diversity
• Tech Savvy
Generation Z Characteristics
(Parents primarily Gen Y and Gen X)
(1995 - present)
1% of the work force
• Homeland generation
• Tech savvy
• Creative/Socially connected
• Collaborative
• Not in the workforce
(Labor Force Composition by Generation, Pew Research Center
May 11, 2015, pweresearch.org)

4. When we arrive at the year 2020, the above five generations will be working together. We will
have an aging workforce with Gen Z arriving and wanting in to work with the other four
generations. We need to understand each generation to better recruit, develop, and retain our
multi-generational talent pool.
Who will be our leaders in 2020? Who will be running for office and how many companies will
go the way of the Kodak Camera, typewriters, and encyclopedia? What can we do to prepare for
the five generations in the workplace? First, we must know the style of leadership each group
will have.
Generational styles of leadership:
Traditionalist:
• Top-down management; follow the military chain of command
• Motivated by quiet feedback and their experiences; save money
• Statement: your experience is respected here
Boomers:
• Census management and micromanage
• Motivated by perks and titles; spend money
• Statement: you are important to our success
Generation X:
• Competence is very important
• Motivated by control of time, individual recognition, challenge, and flexibility
• Statement: Do it your way
Generation Y:
• Inclusive
• Motivated by hardworking coworkers; appreciate concrete and specific recognition
• Statement: you will be working with other bright and creative people.
Generation Z
• Discussing what they want and need
• Motivated by: getting what they want and newest technology
• Statement: Do you have everything you need?
“Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and
wiser than the one that comes after it.”
George Orwell, 1903-1950

5. Are You Ready?
The leadership challenge for each of us is to be ready for what is coming. Are you ready? We
can look at some predictions for the future and these can give us some ideas of the multiple
changes ahead, not only in the workplace, but in our own lives as well. Equipped with the
knowledge of what most likely be coming will allow you to prepare and be ready for change.
In the workplace, customers will continue to demand faster, quicker, and more innovative
products, delivery modes, and services (i.e. cars that drive themselves, drone delivery, and
phones that will store and compile all data and give medical/mental health reports to doctors
miles away). This, in turn, will create continual change in the workplace: if workers are not able
to constantly change, they will be passed by and not be able to compete. Each day will need a
WOW factor, routine will be a way of the past and more people will work from home creating a
virtual workplace. This will drive competition to new levels: innovation and technology will
compel people to be flexible and communicative leaders, capable of dealing with constant
change by being prepared for anything and realizing most of what has been learned is not enough
to be successful.
Leaders will need to understand that followership is much more important. Followers will be the
ones who drive the workplace and need to be served, recognized, and placated to achieve the
results needed to compete (all while the employees themselves demonstrate loyalty to developing
their own careers by hop-scotching from one job to another). Leaders and employees doing the
right things will be on a sliding scale to achieve profitability and economic drivers.
Are you ready for all of this? If you want to be a part of the future, you best get ready and
jump on board – the train is not stopping at the station for long!
Rex Gatto Ph.D., BCC
President
Gatto Associates LLC.
412 344-2277 (Office)
www.rexgatto.com
rex@rexgatto.com