Every Generation Starts Out asThe Me, Me, Me Generation…

Remember a few weeks ago when I asked what topics you would like me to write about?  It was a resounding “The Millennials”.  To honor that request I am writing a two-part piece for you on that subject and more.  Part one deals with looking at how other generations have “grown out” of their narcissism  (me, me, me generation)  and what this might mean for you as you engage with the Millennials.  Part two will focus on the ten principles of how to be successful with the Millennial generation.  So here we go!

“They have trouble making decisions. They would rather hike in the Himalayas than climb a corporate ladder. They have few heroes, no anthems, no style to call their own. They crave entertainment, but their attention span is short. They hate yuppies, hippies, and druggies. They postpone marriage because they dread divorce. They sneer at Range Rovers, Rolexes, and red ties. What they hold dear are family, local activism, national parks, and freedom.”

What generation would you guess this Time Magazine was talking about? Millennials??  SURPRISE! This was actually a take on Generation X back in the dark ages of 1990.  Yep, that’s right – back in the day, Gen Xers were known as dumb, grungy, slackers who were politically disengaged, disrespectful and insecure.   Turns out every generation start out with some very negative stereotypes and every generation starts out being fairly narcissistic.  To be perfectly honest, this is an adult development stage that eventually we all simply grow out of.  Another given that typically plays into the “generation wars” is the fact that every generation vilifies the next.  Always.  But, what would you say if we could turn that around by identifying and understanding what some of the early traits are for the next generation, the Millennials in particular, and then be on the cutting edge of leveraging their strengths and building a more diverse, engaged talent pool?  First, let’s take a look at each of the generations…

What Is In a Name?

Generational names are the handiwork of popular culture, historic events, rapid social change and a big turn in the calendar.  Here is a quick breakdown of the generations:

 

Generation Birth Years Famous People Defining Moments/Perspectives
Baby Boomers
(79 Million)
1946-1964 Oprah
John Mackey
Bill Clinton
Vietnam War and Nixon Years
Idealistic, Collaborative, Respectful, Money Focused
Generation X
(51 Million)
1965 – 1980 Julia Roberts
Tiger Woods
Elon Musk
Latch-Key MTV Generation
Multicultural Friends Replace Family, Work/Life Balance, Fiercely Independent
Millennials
(75 Million)
1981-1996 LeBron James
Britney Spears
Mark Zuckerberg
9/11 and Columbine Shootings
Civic Minded, Entitled, Multi-Taskers, Travelers, Digital Natives

 

Youth Vs. Maturity

I did a little investigating into finding out what the traits of the generations were when they were young vs. as they matured into their career.  Here is what I found in the research which consisted of The Gallup Poll and the Pew Research Center.  I think you will find this super interesting:

Baby Boomer’s Youthful Traits:
Idealistic, Anti-War, Self-Centered, Question Everything, Spend Now, Worry Later, Hippies, Trust No One Over 30, Self-Centered, Non-Conformists, Experimenters, “The American Dream”
Traits That Developed Over Time:
Patriotic, Hard Workers, Team Oriented, Moralistic, Loyal, Ambitious, Live to Work, Optimistic, Responsible, Traditional, Collaborative, Value Equality, Money Motivated, Goal Centric, Mentors

 

Generation X Youthful Traits:
Disrespectful, Insecure, Politically Disconnected, Fiercely Independent, Grungy, Lazy, Street Smart, Isolated, Philosophizers, High Debt, Rebels, Short Attention Span, Brand Loyal, Angry, What Is In It For Me?
Traits that Developed Over Time:
Flexible, Determined, Voracious Learners, Entrepreneurial,  Tech Savvy, Self-Deprecating, Small but Powerful, Innovative, Discerning Taste, Unique, Revenue Generators, Informal, Self-Reliant, Pragmatic

 

Millennial’s Youthful Traits:
Politically Skeptical, Non-Religious, Unattached, Needy, Disloyal, Broke, Opportunistic, Needs a “Trophy”, Entitled, Distracted, Well-Traveled, Disengaged, Doted On, Pleasers, Stimulus Junkies
Possible Traits We Have to Look Forward To:
Fiscally Responsible, Work-Life Alignment, Passionate, Entrepreneurial, Global Worldview, Change Agents, Spiritual, Respectful, Progressive, Educated, Inclusive, Confident, Social, Ambitious

Anecdotal Evidence or Hard Facts?

With all of this research piling up…what do you notice?  There are so many descriptors that can overlap and even be mistaken for another generation.  One of the biggest issues I hear about Millennials in organizations is the “work ethic” question.  “Why don’t these kids work as hard as we did?”  According to the data, Millennials who were polled agreed that Work Ethic and Moral Values are traits they feel the older generations have a better handle on. Interesting!  The research also indicates that the younger generation works hard, but likes to work smart and in spurts.  See the nuances?

So the big task here is for you, dear readers, to look at the Youthful Traits of the Millennials and realize your generation had some questionable traits in the beginning as well.  Instead of focusing on those negatives, look to the Possible Traits that can be nurtured in the next generation.  Remember, this new generation likes to please so your coaching and mentoring should be well received…and if it not, it may likely be a bad fit for the culture, not a generational issue.  Next week I will be following up on what you can do to nurture these amazing Millennial traits as well as the “watch outs” for this younger generation.  Have a great week!