Barbara Weathers, MAMetropolitan Community College, Kansas City, MO

Motivating the Hyper-connected Workforce

To connect yourself into different information and social streams –dialogues on multiple channels, and absorbing information at a quick pace.

What is hyper-connected?

Hyper-connectivity is usually associated with Millennials or GenY, which comprise one quarter of U.S. population.

That is 78 million born between 1981 and 2000 Two-thirds are over the age of 21

According to Brian Solis, the world moves faster with every generation, and rapid-fire text messaging and social networks allow people to stay connected.

•Balancing real-world and virtual relationships •Creating a constant sense of belonging •Developing an instantaneous ability to disseminate information

“Every few hundred years in Western History there occurs a sharp transformation. Within a few short decades, society rearranges itself….its worldview; its basic values; its social and political structure; its arts; its key institutions. Fifty years later, there is a new world. And the people born then cannot even imagine the world in which their grandparents lived. We are currently living through just such a transformation. It is creating the post-capitalist society.”Peter Drucker

The Informational & Cultural Revolution and

Generational Differences

Generation Defined

Traditionalist (Born 1920-1945) Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964)Generation Xers (Born 1965-1980) Millennials or GenYs (Born 1981-2000)Un-named generation (2001-present)

Traditionalists • The Greatest

Generation• Over age 65• 46 million

▫ Dependable▫ Loyal▫ Hardworking▫ Sacrifice▫ Obligation▫ Thrifty▫ Traditional

Events that shaped

▫ Great Depression▫ World War II▫ Korean War

Baby Boomers • Economic Growth

Generation• Mid 40s to 60s• 78-80 Million

▫ Work Centric▫ Goal Oriented▫ Competitive▫ Team Work▫ Tolerance▫ Freedom▫ Independent

Events that shaped

▫ Kennedy Assassination▫ MLK Assassination▫ Vietnam War▫ Moon Landing▫ Rise of T.V.

Generation X• Entrepreneurial Generation• 30s and early 40s• 44 million

▫ Individualism▫ Idealistic▫ Technologically adaptive▫ Flexible▫ Work/Life Balance

Events that shaped▫ Cold war▫ Latchkey kids▫ Oral contraceptives▫ Persian Gulf War▫ AIDS

Millennials (GenY)• Digital Natives• Teens and 20s• 78-80 million

▫ Tech Savvy ▫ Environmental▫ Family Centric▫ Achievement Oriented▫ Group Oriented▫ Attention Craving

Events that shaped▫ World Wide Web▫ 9/11▫ Oklahoma City Bombing▫ Columbine Massacre▫ Technology access

Changing Workforce Demographics2010 workforce

MillennialsGen XBoomersTraditional

The 2020 Workforce

MillennialGen XBoomerTraditionalnew gen

Managing and communicating across the generations

Importance of Mentoring & Training

• Information verses Knowledge▫Explicit knowledge▫Tactic knowledge

•Reverse Mentoring Programs

•Succession Management

Motivation and EngagementWhat motivates this generation is different:

• Balance – the ability to set their own schedules

• Leading Edge – continual learning and professional development

• Instant Contribution – need to know the why and how their work is vital to the organization

• Stability – show them the road to success within the organization

Managing Millennials• Lead with honesty and

integrity• Challenge them to learn• Allow them to multi-task• Enhance social aspects• Humor• Be flexible• Find their individual

passion

Questions