Portland State Magazine Fall 2007

The generation gap is nothing new. These days, age-related workplace stratifications-according to William Strauss and Neil Howe's book, Generations-include Silent Generation (born 1925-1942), Baby Boomers (born 1940-1960), Genera– tion X (born 1961-1982) and Millennials (born after 1982). That's four generations, two sexes, an ever-shifting palette of ethnic and cultural backgrounds-and a nearly infinite num– ber of opportunities for feet to enter mouths. SOM E OF THOSE faux pas moments come from the assumptions people make about each other. "Stereotypes are normal," says Cabelly. "They save us time. But we have to look beyond stereotypes to what is true of individual people. We need to look at the positive differences between us, to see what someone else can do that we cannot." Cabelly cites a number of common Baby Boomer stereo– types about Gen-Xers and Millennials: they're disloyal, arrogant, have short attention spans, don't want to pay their dues, and need immediate gratification. "Back in 1975, Morris Massey (workplace training guru) said the problem with the younger generation was that they grew up watching Mission: Impossible," says Cabelly. ''At che beginning of the show, they got their assignment, and an hour later all the world's problems were solved, with three commer– cial breaks for the good life. Massey said that was the problem with today's generation, that rhey wanted instant gratification. People are saying the same thing 32 years later!" The truth, Cabelly says, is that Gen-Xers and Millennials have learned valuable lessons from their Baby Boomer prede– cessors. They will work hard and pay their dues, bur rhey do expect recognition-positive feedback, benefits, and compen– sation-for their efforrs. Unlike the Baby Boomers, they don't expect a lifetime employment contract and will leave if their need for recognition is not gratified. But as Cabelly is quick to point out, there are crucial dif– ferences between che two youngest workplace generations. "I calk to people all the time about how boomers can work with two younger generations," he says. "Millennials love reams– they've grown up participating in them from the time they were in first grade. They're truly the first 'ream' generation in this country, making them an absolute necessity for commu– nication in any office. My 29-year-old son, a musician, loves nothing more than sirring in a corner and working by himself. My 20-year-old niece, again a musician, composes collabora– tively with the other kids." However, both younger generations were born into a Technological Gulf Stream, having never known life without personal computers and cell phones. They bring a welcome technological facility to the workplace. UNDERSTANDING SUCH DISTINCTIONS is crucial co inter-generational harmony, says Cabelly. "You have co talk to your co-workers and get to know them to understand how they can contribute. The problem is, most of us haven't been taught ro communicate effectively. le is also crucial to recog– nize that the way you process information is not necessarily the way someone else does. And finally, don't call the Millennials 'Gen-Y,' like some members of the older generations do. They didn't choose chat name, and it makes it sound like they're just an add-on to Gen X." Cabelly has observed char many Baby Boomers think char when they were 20, they were somehow different from the Gen-Xers or Millennials when they were 20. Sociologists and social commentators focus on the differences between che generations, such as their relative technological environments, without considering the face that a 20-year-old is automatically different from a 50-year-old. "What they're saying is that the Boomers, when they were 20, were better than the Millennials are at 20," Cabelly says. "What I'm saying is that the differences that existed between a 20-year-old Boomer and a 50-year-old are very similar to che differences that exist today between a 20-year-old Millennial and a 50-year-old Boomer. That's the crux of the issue-peo– ple are focusing on generational differences, when it's the age difference char matters." Cabelly, for one, is learning how to cum the inter-genera– tional symphony in his own workplace co his advantage. "I have an iPod and still don't know how to use it," he says. "I just need co find the right Millennial kid to show me how." ■ Jeff Kuechle is a member ofthe Baby Boom generation. He is also a Portlandfreelance writer, who wrote the article "Turning Lives Around" in the spring Portland State Magazine. BTLivermore, a Gen-Xer living in Portland, is a freelance illustrator and comic artist. FALL 2007 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 17