Tammy Erickson Associates Building Intelligent Organizations

Q&A: Translating the Need for Change to Baby Boomers

Question:
I am a management consultant to creative industries. I began this work after noticing how many Gen X designers were fleeing their industries; struggling in companies that don’t fit their work and management styles or allow them to grow professionally.

Your ‘Outdated Management Myths’ speak to many of the issues I have tried to communicate with managers in creative firms. While Gen Xers and Ys are excited about rethinking management, I’ve struggled with translating the need for change to Baby Boomers. I understand that change is difficult and risky, especially in the current economy. However, without a sense of urgency and action, I fear the significant loss of talent we may face.

Do you have any recommendations for encouraging Baby Boomers to reevaluate current management styles? How to get them interested and on board?

Regards,
Anna

Hi Anna,
Ah, what an important question! And one that is of serious concern to me, as well. I, too, have found that it is very difficult to help Boomers understand that their view of the world (“our” view, I must say, since I am one) is not necessarily shared by everyone.

Here’s my best trick: I ask them if they have children. If the answer is “yes,” I’m well on my way. I then ask them if their own children would like [to work in this company], [to abide by this practice], etc. This stops many Boomers in their tracks. I’ve had many say, “well, no, my child wouldn’t like this . . . “, to which I say, “I suspect other parents’ children won’t, as well.”

In other words, bring it down to the personal level. I once asked a leadership team of a major corporation how many of them had recommended to their own children that they apply for a job at this company. Not one hand was raised. And, in many ways, my job was done at that point. They had the message: if this isn’t a company they would recommend to their own children, on what basis would they recommend it to other children?

Boomers still have that idealistic streak that they developed as teens—it’s been buried for 30+ years, but you can tap into it if you get them thinking about building a corporation that their children would love.

All the best,

Tammy

Q&A: Boomers and Aging Parents

I just came from your presentation at Texas Wesleyan College this afternoon and enjoyed it very much.

But I would love to hear your take on how the Boomers are handling the enormous responsibity many have had to take on with aging parents, when they themselves are aging.

Linda

Dear Linda,

Thanks very much for your note.

Caring for aging parents is a major responsibility for many Boomers, and a growing number of X’ers, today. The one optimistic note I can offer is that today’s longer life expectancies mean that Boomers are not aging quite as quickly as members of their parents’ generation did. As a result, happily, most Boomers still have the vitality required to handle this significant challenge.

Warm wishes,

Tammy

Filed under: Boomers | Published: 01/15/11

Q&A: Promoting the Continued Employability of Boomers

Dear Tammy,

I’m an active reader of your work and on the Generations at workplace and would like to thank you for the useful & bright insights you give me sofar.

Following my reading I was wondering whether you could give me your thoughts on a couple of points below.

Out of your researches, do you believe that addressing the market of potential candidates adequately to the Generation you’re looking to target make sense?

In EU we’re facing a socio-economical debate with workers pushed to prolongue their work lenght.
With an history of employers’attitude of always firing the older generations first, and foreseeing the gap between job demands & employees availabilities in the future, would you see a market need to promoted the re-employability of our Baby Boomers?

Thanks in advance for your consideration and wish you a good day,

Best Regards,

Yoni
Belgium

Hi Yoni—

Thanks very much for your note—it’s always wonderful to hear that you’re finding my work helpful.

Yes, I absolutely feel that it’s important to promote the employability of Boomers. I actually think much of this will happen naturally, as employers find that there simply aren’t enough young employees to fill their growth needs. If they want people with relevant skills, they will need, eventually, to turn to the Boomers.

Best wishes for success in your work,

Tammy

Filed under: Boomers | Published: 01/15/11

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