Tammy Erickson Associates Building Intelligent Organizations

Q&A: Gen X in Latin America

I belong to an international group within my business unit. I frequently interface with peers in Mexico and Latin America. It seems some of the gen. X folks, mimic the American baby-boomers (despite the uncertainty and corruption in their governments). There seems to be implicit respect in certain institutions (church, gov’t). However, I am not to clear of their family values as it relates to their children’s success or their approach in to the workplace. Any insights would be appreciated relative to this region of the world?

Vince

Hi Vince,

I do think that X’ers in many Latin American countries share some characteristics with U.S. Boomers—particularly the anti-authoritarian views which, as you pointed out, stemmed from the corruption evident in many governments during their formative years. I don’t find that they have respect for government. I do find that they tend to have deep family values.

Here’s a summary I recently wrote on Gen X in Brazil:
The economy continued to struggle in the late 1970’s and 1980’s, resulting in strikes for higher wages. Opposition to authority became more vocal and widespread. Civilians protested to end the military government rule and demand a direct vote. In 1989, the first democratically elected president in 29 years brought free trade and privatization, although the transition was fiscally arduous. This difficult path left members of Generation X risk-adverse, with a strong sense of self-reliance and a strong commitment to their families.

I hope this helps. Best wishes for continued success in your collaboration with peers throughout Latin America.

Warmly,

Tammy

Filed under: Comparisons Among the Generations | Published: 01/15/11

Q&A: Attracting Different Generations to Social Organizations

How are social organization, (Example Lions Club, Masons, Churches, Knight of Columbus, etc), attracting and keeping boomers, Xers, and Gen Y? What would be a good source to obtain additional information, on this subject?

Gregory

Hi Gregory—

That’s a really interesting question. I’ve found that the key is to match programming of the social organizations to the key values of the generation.

Here’s an example. I was on the Board of an arts organization a number of years ago. Initially, our target donors were Traditionalists—a group that deeply values joining organizations, membership, and belonging. The fund-raising emphasized that donations of different amounts would allow you to become a “member” of different “clubs”—the Silver Club, Gold Club, etc. Each Club came with increasing levels of prestigious amenities. As our target donor based shifted, and we began to focus more on Boomers, it became necessary to change the approach. Boomers place little value on joining institutions, but they are idealistic. We developed an approach in which different levels of donations were expressed in terms of the benefits each one would provide to others (donations of a certain amount would help x number of children experience this art form, etc.). It was a very effective campaign, because it touched a core value for this generation. I’m no longer on the Board of this organization, but I’d suggest that campaigns directed to X’ers might emphasize choice, control, and options (in other words, provide a menu of ways in which the donation could be used and allow the donor some control over the choice).

I haven’t seen other work in this area, but I hope this gives you some useful ideas.

Warmly,

Tammy

Filed under: Comparisons Among the Generations | Published: 01/15/11

Q&A: Generations Outside the U.S.

Tammy,

I read your blog post comparing the generational differences between the US and India. You mentioned at the end that you would share your research on other countries in future posts. Did you do that and how can I access that? And if not, do you have information on China, Europe and South America similar to your study of India?

Thank you.

Karen

Hi Karen—

I did write several blog posts on China (check at http://discussionleader.hbsp.com/erickson/). There is also an online course available from Harvard called “Leading Across the Ages” that includes profiles of the generations in eight different countries (http://www.kworksconsulting.com/assets/files/Leading%20across%20the%20ages.pdf). And I continue to conduct research in the generations around the world as part of the Talent Insight research program I direct (http://www.MoxieInsight.com).

I hope this helps! Thanks very much for your inquiry.

Best,

Tammy

Filed under: Comparisons Among the Generations | Published: 01/15/11

Q&A: The Growing Number of Older Internet Users—and Susceptibility to Scams

Tammy,

I have run into more of a personal generational difference for the first time that has completely thrown me for a loop (even with all the tools I have in my belt to understand the differences in the generations!)

As a member of Gen X, we are really experiencing the full-on “Sandwich Generation” squeeze right now. In dealing with my Boomer mother, we recently had an issue come up that she could not comprehend… Internet safety/ Internet scams. My children would think this is just crazy, others my age would appreciate that they are out there and we have to be cautious, but my mother just cannot comprehend that scams are out there. (This was the one that comes from a “lawyer” on “Lloyds of London” letterhead telling her that she has just come into $6 million.)

We all know that anyone who is slightly Internet-savvy can create Lloyds of London letterhead, even create an email address that looks like it is coming from them, claim to be a lawyer (or even better yet, just a real person) and convince people that it is all real. HOWEVER, as someone who only knows how to use the Internet to get email and order from Amazon, she cannot comprehend that scams like this could even happen. She truly believes that “if it is on the Internet, then it must be true” (probably as she believed that if it was on CBS Evening News or the NY Times, it must be true).

Do you have any research about Internet safety and the older generations? I would have to imagine she is not alone! How do we as those more familiar with the Internet let them know that there is a lot of garbage out there that can even hurt them?

Erinn

Hi Erinn,

I haven’t seen anything specific on Internet scams, but I suspect this is just the latest incarnation of older people’s susceptibility to scams of all kinds – phone, Internet, someone dressed as a repairman at the front door, and so on. I’m afraid just as we have to help our children understand the implications of their online activity, we also need to help our older relatives – or ourselves – become increasingly savvy.

It’s clear that your mother is part of a growing trend in terms of Internet usage. Today, women over 55 are the fastest-growing demographic group of social network users; 41% of all Boomers (men and women) have visited online social networks. According to a 2009 Pew internet study, more than half of all Boomers are online on an average day, and more than a third go online several times a day. Forty-one percent of Boomers say they go online just to have fun. The NPD Group found that 61% of Boomer Internet users in the U.S. have visited sites that offer streaming or downloadable video.

There’s no turning back – it’s time for us all to learn the Internet ropes.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Warmly,

Tammy

Filed under: Comparisons Among the Generations | Published: 05/13/09

Q&A: Tammy’s Presentation Cited in Forbes: The Challenge of the Changing Workforce

Tammy:

Thanks for your work.

Kenneth G. Brill at Forbes recently wrote the following in an article:

I have found Tamara Erickson’s Challenge of the Changing Workforce very interesting, especially as it relates to projected skill shortages in the workforce and generational differences between traditionalists, boomers, Gen-X and Gen-Y. According to Erickson, “Ys desire big important tasks ... but they don’t necessarily want your job!” They are “happy to do the task, but not the time,” and “they are not the slightest bit deterred by what older workers might perceive as a lack of experience or even limited qualifications for the task at hand.”

I tried to find the cited work and have not. Where can I find the article or book? Amazon did not have the title.

Thanks,

Bill Doran

Hi Bill,

The research that I’ve done on the generations threads through a number of the books and articles I’ve written. I’d suggest you start with Plugged In, which I wrote for members of Generation Y, but have had many older readers tell me they find very helpful in understanding Y’s’ perspectives and strengths. I also write about these topics often in my blog “Across the Ages,” which appears weekly on Harvard Business Press’ website: http://discussionleader.hbsp.com/erickson/.

“The Challenge of the Changing Workforce” is the title I frequently use for the speeches and workshops I do with senior executives. I’ve added the slides from a session I did last fall for the Harvard Business School Reunion classes to the downloadable documents on this site, and invite you to explore that, as well.

I hope that helps. Thank you for asking.

Best,

Tammy

Filed under: Comparisons Among the Generations | Published: 05/13/09

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