Boomers & GenYers Share the Same Bed … of Values

Recently, I was of the opinion that what Millennials (born 1976-87) value is different from what Boomers (born 1946-64) cherish. More recently, I received another intelligence report from HBR (http://harvardbusiness.org, July-Aug 09), entitled “How Gen Y & Boomers Will Reshape Your Agenda”, with the tag line: Your oldest and youngest talent cohorts demand many of the same things in a workplace.

What? We like the same things? Shut-Up! (ßmy lame attempt as a Boomer to sound like a Millennial.)

I felt younger by the minute as I read about how much I had in common with the younger-something’s.  I felt older by the word as I had to rethink my well-reasoned, air-tight opinion of yesterday.  (Wasn’t the first, won’t be the last time I do this, I assure you.)

The article (www.worklifepolicy.org) concludes that this synchronicity of viewpoints creates a new “center of gravity for human resources management”.  Meaning, the GenYs and the Boomers may pull the work place environment into a similar orbit – one that matches their shared values.  As it turns out, both the Millennials and I like flexible work hours and the opportunity to give back to society.

Wait! Don’t jump to a conclusion and stop thinking. “Shared” doesn’t automatically translate to “Looks and Feels the Same.”   While a GenY and I may both value giving back and being of service, we may choose different ways to express and fulfill it.  Even when we participate in the same activity, such as swinging a hammer for Habitat for Humanity, what it means to us personally may differ. That’s OK and that’s the point!  In my coaching work, “shared” means “share the meaning, talk”, not “be exactly alike.”

Leadership Sidebar: Employee Engagement equals high performance and high attraction and retention. Leaders who offer employees ways to satisfy their individual values and create a meaningful link between individual and corporate values will be rewarded with extraordinary relationships and results. Heads up: Be sure and walk your values talk. If you don’t, you’ll lose the future leaders you need to grow your business. Heads further up: Knowing what you don’t value is as important as knowing what you do.

Millys (they probably hate me calling them that) and Boomers (no, I am not calling myself a “boomy”) can share the same value bed, as long as (1) we each know what our side of the value bed means, (2) we give the other room and share the covers, and (3) we seek to understand what matters to each other.  In doing so, we’ll find the connections and alignment that we’ve been looking for to work successfully together and be happy.

I like that I share values with GenYers. It makes me feel young (not like I feel old, mind you). Even so, every now and then, when I need to be reminded that age really doesn’t matter, I watch the 2009 National Senior Games at Stanford (www.youtube.com/watch?v=aytfWYT1-yQ), check out The Boss, now 60+, (http://www.aarpmagazine.org/entertainment/bruce_springsteen.html), and remember when I rallied for 2 minutes with Martina Navratilova. Ok, it was only 3 balls, but they got over the net! Shut-Up!