What Shaped Your Gen Xers?
Knowing what shaped your Generation X employees can help explain their motivations in the workplace. Gen Xers grew up during major cultural and global shifts. They were the first “children of divorce,” as many marriages dissolved during the 1960s and 1970s. They were also expected to fend for themselves after coming home from school and became known as “latchkey kids.” This helped build their self-reliance. In the 1980s, major shifts in musical genres and pop culture, the introduction of new technologies, and changes in economic infrastructure helped shape this generation. In fact, many Gen Xers look back on the 1980s with angst and nostalgia for their youth.
During of the course of these changes, Gen Xers were introduced to technology through toys, gadgets and computers. Generation X can actually be called the very first digital generation in history, which helped them develop a familiarity and comfort with both technology and change. (Of course, Millennials took this a step further and are even more comfortable using the latest technology, while some Gen Xers are more reluctant to adapt).
In addition, Gen Xers watched world history change right before their eyes during the 1980s, (the destruction of the Berlin Wall, US Stock Market crash, Exxon Valdez, to name a few) which proved to them that institutions once thought indestructible were indeed vulnerable to ruin. This may have caused a lingering fear in Gen Xers in terms of organizational downsizing and layoffs.
Now that you understand what shaped this generation of workers, how will this help you to manage them differently? Will you be able to provide a stable workplace environment? Do you take advantage of their strengths?
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