VCL II WK 8 Generational Leadership Assessment

Compare your own traits and values to those given below for your generation. Do you fit in with
your group? What additional events or cultural elements might have shaped your values and your
approach to leadership? Do you agree with the description of your expectations in the
workplace?

Generation Y (also called the Millennials)

Born: 1980-2000

Key Character-Shaping Events

Terrorism: 911, World Trade Center, Oklahoma City

School violence: Columbine, Virginia Tech
Global Warming, natural disasters, AIDS and other pandemics
Ubiquitous technology
Working mothers
Pro-child culture

Traits of Todays Gen Y

Socially responsible
Technologically advanced
Concerned about the environment
Interested in volunteering
Increasingly spiritual
Support cause-related marketing
Confident
Tolerant and family-centric
Increased ethnic and racial diversity

Gen Y Core Values

Optimism
Civic duty
Confidence
Achievement
Sociability
Morality
Diversity

With regard to the Work Force, Gen Y tend to:

(25% of 2010 Work Force)

Value family and country more than income and status

Be close to their parents; parent-child co-purchase decisions are common.
Generation X
Born: 1965-1979

Key Character-Shaping Events

End of the Cold War fall of the Berlin Wall

Entry of women into the workforce
Increase in their parents divorce rate
Increase in parents unemployment
Growth of the Internet

Traits of Todays Gen X

Self-reliant
Anti-institution
Rule-morphing
Tribal
Information-rich

Gen X Core Values

Diversity
Thinking globally
Balance
Techno-literacy
Fun
Informality
Pragmaticism
Street smarts

With regard to the Work Force, Gen X-ers tend to be:

(30% of 2010 Work Force)

Self-reliant
Need to be re-recruited every day
Extremely loyal to family and friends, reluctant to relocate
Comfortable accessing a wide variety of information
Baby Boomers
Born: 1946-1964

Key Character-Shaping Events

Vietnam War
Assassinations of key leaders, Kennedys and King
Widespread protests
Civil Rights movement
Watergate and Nixons resignation

For most Boomers, the world was not a world that they wanted to join as is it was a world
that was not working well, that needed to change. It was their responsibility to create change.

Traits of Todays Boomers

Anti-authoritarian
Idealistic
Motivated b changing the world
Competitive

Boomer Core Values

Workaholic
Optimism
Team orientation
Personal gratification
Health and wellness
Personal growth
Success-lifestyle, trophies, plaques
Involvement

With regard to the Work Force, Boomers tend to be:

(38% of 2010 Work Force)

Anti-authoritarian
Idealistic
Motivated to change the world
Competitive
Traditionalists
Born: 1925-1945

Key Character-Shaping Events

First manned space flight

Successful resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis
Significant increase in economic prosperity: home and TV ownership
Growth in white collar jobs

Traits of Todays Traditionalists

Respectful of authority
Hierarchical
Loyal to institutions
Rule makers and conformists
Motivated by financial rewards and security

Traditional Core Values

Dedication/sacrifice
Hard work
Conformity
Law & order
Respect for authority
Delayed reward
Duty before pleasure
Adherence to rules
Honor, national pride
Age=seniority

With regard to the Work Force. Traditionalists tend to be:

(7% of 2010 Work Force)

Comfortable in hierarchy
Respectful of authority
Loyal to institutions
Rule makers and conformists
Motivated by financial rewards and security

Adapted from:

http://www.quixoteconsulting.com/News_articles/Topics/generations_guide.html