ACUP in the Sunshine State

Rhonda Kohler, of Central Michigan University, gave a session on data mining with key customers and using variable data printing to create personalized marketing material.

Understanding the Generations

Catherine Chambers, manager of Printing & Mailing Services for the State College Area School District, made a very interesting presentation called “Understanding the Generations We Manage.” She detailed the differing traits and work habits of the four generations that make up many in-plants’ work forces:

• Traditionalists (born 1922-1943)
• Baby Boomers (born 1945-1965)
• Generation X (born 1966-1980)
• Millennials (born 1980-2000)

Dealing with the younger generations has been a rude awakening for many of us, she said.  They don’t take to the notion of “dues paying,” don’t have the job loyalty of older generations and communicate differently. To more effectively manage them, she said, we must understand how they like to be managed. Generally speaking:

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Boomers live to work, are very competitive and are respectful of authority.
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Gen Xers are latchkey kids, very individualistic, value work/life balance (as in no overtime), embrace change, are very outcome focused, and they expect to switch jobs. They also desire specific, constructive feedback on performance.
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Millennials are sheltered, confident, team-oriented and want to be “rich and famous.” They need interesting work. Multitasking is a way of life, staying connected is essential, and they have zero tolerance for delays.

Communicating with the younger generations should be done differently than with older employees, she contended. Instead of annual reviews, Gen Xers like to receive frequent feedback. They prefer sound bites and informal communications. Make sure they know that what they do matters, she advised. Mentor often but don’t hover. Balance assignments with flexibility. Learn their language and use it to communicate. Reward them immediately and publicly. Create an engaging and fun workplace. Create accountability structures to prevent misunderstandings. Let them use the problem-solving abilities they learned when they were “home-alone.”