21 st Century Skills: Bridging the Four Generations in Today s Workforce

Transcription

1 21 st Century Skills: Bridging the Four Generations in Today s Workforce January 21, 2014

2 21 st Century Skills: Bridging the Four Generations in Today s Workforce Today s Objective: To share with you, insights on how you can use 21 st Century Skills to help yourself and ultimately help your clients find greater success working in today s multi-generational workplace.

3 21 st Century Skills: Bridging the Four Generations in Today s Workforce Today s workforce has to cope with: Increased accountability Funder pressure for metrics (Units) Explosive advances in digital technology Introduction & rapid expansion of Social media

4 21 st Century Skills: Bridging the Four Generations in Today s Workforce Today s workforce also has to cope with: A multi-cultural workforce Distinct personality types An inclusive workforce Global competition for jobs And... A multi-generational workplace

5 An identifiable group that shares: Birth years & age Location Significant life events Values

6 i) Traditionalists: (6.7%) (Age 69+ = 1.2 Million Workers) ii) Baby Boomers: (38.8%) (Age = 6.9 Million Workers) iii) Generation X: (31.5%) (Age = 5.6 Million Workers) iv) Generation Y: (23.0%) (Age = 4.1 Million Workers)

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8 Traditionalists: Baby Boomers: Generation X: Generation Y: Linksters: 2004 Present

9 The Emergence of Five Generations in our Workforce ( )

10 BABY GEN - Y & TRADITIONALS BOOMERS GEN - X LINKSTER OUTLOOK Practical Optimistic Skeptical Hopeful WORK ETHIC Dedicated Driven Balanced Ambitious VIEW Respectful Love/Hate Unimpressed Relaxed, AUTHORITY Polite LEADERSHIP BY Hierarchy Consensus Competence Achievement RELATIONSHIPS Self - Personal Reluctance Loyal, Sacrifice Gratification to Commit Inclusive PERSPECTIVE Civic-Minded Team-Oriented Self-Reliant Civic-Minded TURN-OFFS Vulgarity Political Clichés, Cynicism, Incorrectness Hype Condescension

11 Traditionals Baby Boomers Gen `X` Gen `Y` How they like to communicate: Directly, faceto-face , cell phones, face to face , IM, Cell Phones Texting, Cell Phones & IM Approach to problem solving: Linear hierarchy follow orders from above - no questions asked Consider what worked in the past & how it can be replicated, then call a meeting to discuss Think up a list of solutions on your own, then call a meeting to discuss Form a team to brainstorm a solution. Use the web social networking for research What they`re worried about: Stability & retirement Work-life balance, stability, whether they`re appreciated Whatever they`re worried about Respect for them means: Having decades of work experience & input still valued Having their professionalism & growing knowledge valued Having their ideas valued by coworkers

12 CNN News January 13 th, 2014

13 Neilson Research Cell Phone Data Usage by Age Q Q Gen Z Gen Y Gen X Boomers Traditionals

14 Neilson Research Number of Text Message Exchanges by Age Q Q Gen Z Gen Y Gen X Boomers Traditionals

15 GENERATION Traditionals Baby Boomers Gen X Gen Y Gen Z Linksters WORK VALUES Work hard because its the right thing to do Work hard because it defines you, and you can make a difference Work hard so that you can play hard Work hard at work that has meaning Show tendency to be committed to working towards making socially responsible policies like Gen Y

16 6 Key Findings Today s Workplace: Work is more demanding on employees Employer-Employee relations less hierarchical Moving towards short-term employment relationships Employees have greater expectations for short-term rewards Immediate supervisors now most important people in workplace Supervising employees now requires more time & skill by managers

17 21 st Century Skills: Bridging the Four Generations in Today s Workforce

18 Mastery of Core Subjects & 21 st Century Themes Global Awareness Financial, Civic, Health & Environmental Literacy Life & Career Skills Flexibility & Adaptability Initiative & Self-Direction Social & Cross-Cultural Productivity & Accountability Leadership & Responsibility

19 Learning & Innovation Skills Creativity & Innovation Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Communication Collaboration Information Media & Technology Skills Information Literacy Media Literacy ICT Literacy

20 Our 7 C s CREATIVITY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP: CRITICAL THINKING: COLLABORATION: COMMUNICATION: CHARACTER: CULTURE & ETHICAL CITIZENSHIP: COMPUTER & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES:

21 CREATIVITY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP: The ability to apply creative thought processes to create something of value The capacity to create and apply new knowledge in innovative & entrepreneurial ways to create new products or solve complex problems

22 CRITICAL THINKING: The ability to acquire, process, interpret, rationalize and critically analyze large volumes of often conflicting information to the point of making an informed decision and taking action in a timely fashion

23 COLLABORATION: The ability to interact positively and respectfully with others in creating new ideas and developing products

24 COMMUNICATION: The capacity to communicate using a variety of media technologies and social networks and to access, analyze and managing large volumes of information

25 CHARACTER: The attainment of life skills, such as being a life-long and self directed learner proficient in managing personal relationships and resolving conflict

26 CULTURE & ETHICAL CITIZENSHIP: The capacity to comprehend Canada s political, social, economic and financial systems in a global context, appreciate Canada s cultural and societal diversity and understand society s dependence on our natural systems

27 COMPUTER & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES: The capacity to use computers and digital resources to access information and create knowledge, solutions, products and services; the capacity to use social media for learning

28 Group Activity Odd- Numbered Tables: Identify the challenges you have personally faced when connecting with each of the five generations Even-Numbered Tables: Use 21 st Century Skills from Canada or USA to identify solutions to bridge each of the five generations

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30 Resolving Inter-Generational Conflicts: Understand Work Styles Traditionals & Baby Boomers dislike micro management Gen Y ers & Linksters crave specific detailed instructions & are used to hovering authorities Consider Generational Values Each generation protects a distinct set of values & conflict may threaten these values Share Perceptions When employees of two or more generations are involved in workplace conflict they can learn much by sharing their perceptions

31 Resolving Inter-Generational Conflicts: Find Generationally Appropriate Fix We can t change people s life experiences but you can work with the set of resulting workplace attitudes & expectations Find Commonality Each generation does share some common values & traits. The key is to start by using these common points as a foundation to build on Learn From Each Other Each generation has valuable lessons, knowledge & experiences to teach either the next and/or earlier generation

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33 Successful organizations leverage these important common values that span across all generations: Work viewed as a vehicle for personal fulfillment & satisfaction Staff made to feel valued on the job by their employer A work environment where staff are recognized & appreciated Career development treated as a high priority by the employer Employers offer staff flexible work hours

34 1. Match formality to the culture 2. Use multiple communication avenues 3. Individualize your approach 4. Understand value differences 5. Be aware of motivating factors 6. Ask, don t assume 7. Be willing to learn 8. Be willing to teach 9. Acknowledge the differences 10. Don t take it personally

35 Tony Wagner s 7 Survival Skills: 1. Critical thinking & problem solving 2. Collaboration across networks & leading by influence 3. Agility & adaptability 4. Initiative & entrepreneurship 5. Effective oral & written communication 6. Accessing & analyzing information 7. Curiosity & imagination

36 21 st Century Skills: Bridging the Four Generations in Today s Workforce Renowned Author of Future Shock and The Third Wave

37 21 st Century Skills: Bridging the Four Generations in Today s Workforce

38 21 st Century Skills: Bridging the Four Generations in Today s Workforce