Know Your Xs from Your Ys

All generations are not created equal nor are they motivated the same way. How much attention do you pay to the personality characteristics that differentiate boomers from Gen Xers from Generation Ys?

In this month's Leadership & Staffing article, " Motivating a 21st Century Lab Staff, Part II," author Ron Pickett wrote, "Over the past several years a number of distinct differences have been found among various age groups. It has to do with the way the world in which we were raised shaped our group personalities. Kids who grew up with their hands on a keyboard or a gaming device...are different from people who are terrified to plug in their computers. These group characteristics lead to some helpful generalizations about motivation."

Boomers "want to contribute to society through their labor, seek flexible working arrangements, value social connections and loyalty to a company, and prize other rewards of employment over monetary compensation."

"Generation Xers tend to be individualistic, independent, resourceful, and self-sufficient. In the workplace, they value freedom and responsibility. You may have noticed that many in this generation display a 'casual disdain for authority and structured work hours.' They dislike being micromanaged and strongly prefer a hands-off management philosophy."

Members of Generation Y "are very ambitious, but they want both to remain faithful to the workplace and have a wide range of new experiences. They are comfortable in a multicultural environment. They are committed to healing the planet, and they believe that it is important to work in a green, environmental workplace. They also want to network and expect others, including bosses, to be accessible."

Does the above description ring true for you? As lab manager, are you aware of these generational differences and, if so, do you take them into account when managing the different aged cohorts within your lab? If you answered yes to either question, please share some of your first-hand experiences managing these very different personality types. Share your challenges as well as solutions.