Feb
27
Monday evening I attended a workshop lead by Chuck Underwood, a leading researcher and executive coach on generational differences. He talked to us about the research he conducted for his book, The Generational Imperative. In the book, he talks primarily about the four generations still in our workforce and more broadly about the five living generations in America.
Over the past few months, while I have been doing my own generational research and hunting down information on the leadership deficit in the nonprofit sector I have paid little attention to the Silent Generation (Born 1927-1945). Most articles and news segments are on the three generations, Boomers, Gen X and the Millennials; few even mention the Silent Generation.
Underwood brought to my attention that the Silent Generation is still a part of the workforce and the youngest of that generation are actually only coming to retirement. We cannot forget about this generation in the nonprofit sector.
There is a misnomer in much of today’s society that we now have to worry about the Baby Boomers retiring, they have been running our companies and organizations, and now it is time for Gen X to take over, and here is where the leadership deficit comes in. When the truth is…many Boomers are just now taking over the major leadership roles in many organizations. The Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, still have 15-20 years before completely leaving the workplace, and even then, it is skeptical.
Underwood describes Boomers as, “idealistic, empowering, engaging, opportunistic, workaholics!” Underwood seems to believe they may never retire. Boomers will be around for quite a while. The Silent Generation, on the same note, is very loyal to their organizations, and many would be more than happy to serve as consultants for their organizations or a mentor to up-and-coming executives, Underwood says.
I am not suggesting their will not be a leadership deficit in the nonprofit sector, there are many more reasons why a leadership deficit is possible. In the nonprofit sector, we cannot be so quick to rule out the Silent Generation, and we have to remember the Boomers will be around for a while.
The Boomers are going to be around a lot longer than many of us may have realized. The Silent Generation seems like a great generation to target for volunteering, and giving, as well as for mentoring.
The Boomers are going to be busy for the next 15-20 years, so why not recruit Silents to be mentors to the young Gen Xers and Millennials in your organizations. The same goes for you, my fellow Millennials, take advantage of the great resources you may have for growing and becoming great nonprofit leaders. Call up the nearest Silent to your organization and ask them if they would be willing to sit down for an interview. This may be a great start to a long mentoring relationship.
- Tera Wozniak
Millennial
Feb
19
There is a clear distinction with the use of technology between those under 50 and those over 50. It became even more apparent to me while I was helping a Y-gen co-worker with installing and using a screen capture software.
The conversation went something like this:
Me : Click on the link and download the software. Remember where you put it because you’ll need it again.
Co-Worker : Yeah…
Me: Now, go to that location where you saved it and double click to install the software. Got that?
Co-Worker: What’s the URL, can you just email it to me?
Me: Now, while installing the program you will want to read the screens that come up, just click Next and accept the defaults.
Co-Worker: Umm… okay
Me: Now, click on the Start menu and look for the program in the list of applications
Co-Worker: I know how to…
Me: Once you start the program, click on the File menu item and then New. The menu items are on the top of the screen…. (at this point, I look at my co-worker)
Co-worker looking complete underwhelmed by my instructions: Can you just tell me the URL and the steps for me to do a screen capture?
Me realizing that she understands how to do all the steps I just gave her: Sorry, I’ll email you the URL. If you want to capture a window press SHIFT+CTRL+W… (you get the picture)
I had gone into the mode of explaining each little step in great details because this what I’m accustomed to doing with the Baby Boomer generation. I realized in that moment that when working with someone closer to my generation, it is not necessary to complete each step with the question “does that make sense?” because it does make sense.
But the most amazing thing to me was that I realized what normally would have taken me 15 minutes of explaining and 15 minutes of follow up questions took me only 5 minutes of explaining, once I figured it out from her look, and no follow up whatsoever. She was able to get going in no time at all.
This difference in modes has intrigued me enough so that I began a little reseach into the different modes of thinking about technology in each generation. I came across a great article about a social entrepreneurs who is tackling the generation gap in regards to technology, but the paragraph that was most interesting was:
“A person born in 1929 is a linear thinker…one page comes after another…then you put that person on a computer and he is lost in the navigation. Then you add a smaller instrument such as a cell phone with Internet capability and it gets even harder.” (http://nonprofit.about.com/od/socialentrepreneurs/a/GenerationGap.htm)
Another piece I found is written by a reference law librarian at the University of Wisconsin called Technology and the Generation Gap. It’s a great piece, if you have time to read it. She provides a great example of the technology gap that has been there for centuries. She tells a story about herself and Clyde, a man in his nineties who lived in an independent living facility where she worked as a college student in the 1990s. His technology? A tape player. His issue? He couldn’t figure out how to use it. She was continually helping him with his tape player, trying to help him master this piece of technology, when:
“…it finally dawned on me that Clyde had no real need to learn how to use a portable tape player. He had his phonograph for that. Clyde was using technology in exactly the way he wished. He used it to strike up a friendly conversation with the pretty young college student that worked at the reception desk, and if it meant repeatedly acting confused about some odd piece of technology, then, “Whoop de doo”, it worked.”
On reflection I realize that technology can be a bridge between generations, but we have to be conscious of who we are talking with and their level of expertise. Not all baby boomers need detailed explanations, but clearly, the linear thinking may require a different type of explanation. Also, not all Y Gen completely understand everything about technology, they often need some help and guidance as well.
So, a few things that I will do from now on: When I’m explaining something to someone, I will keep my eyes on them more often. I will look for understanding in what they are asking. I will try to read body language and more importantly, I will try to humanize the experience a bit more.
Ashima Saigal
Gen X
Feb
15
Mark Your Calendars!
Filed Under Professional Development | Leave a Comment
The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) is coming to Grand Rapids! YNPN is a national organization that serves nonprofit professionals between the ages of 21-40 in professional development, education, and networking with their peers. YNPN currently has over 20 affiliate chapters across the country and we are elated that Grand Rapids can now join the list.
The mission of YNPN of Greater Grand Rapids is to provide emerging nonprofit leaders with opportunities for professional development, education, and networking, while promoting a continuing dialog among nonprofits in the Greater Grand Rapids area.
To welcome and introduce YNPN to the community our first kick-off event will be Wednesday, April 2, 2008 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm. (Location TBA)
The event, sponsored by the School of Public and Nonprofit Administration and the Johnson Center for Philanthropy, both at Grand Valley State University, will provide young nonprofit professionals with the opportunity to learn more about YNPN, get to know others like themselves, and meet and greet nonprofit organizations in the community.
Please visit http://ynpnofggr.wikispaces.com for more information. As the event approaches, you will find up-to-date information and details surrounding the event. Don’t forget mark your calendars, we would love to see you there!
Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Greater Grand Rapids
Board Members
Tera Wozniak - Co-Chair
Janean Brown - Treasurer
Caitlin Townsend - Secretary
Jenn Schaub - Chair of Programming Committee
Ruth Terry - Chair of Social/Networking Committee
Lona Slaughter - Chair of Marketing/Communications Committee
