As a millennial, how can I understand and work with a Gen X-er?

Fortune ^ | April 22, 2015 | Answer by Mira Zaslove on Quora

[C19fan]

As an Xer, I’ve worked with and managed many millennials. And as Michael O. Church writes, people are people. Yet, there are times when knowing a little about each generation has helped me understand a colleague.

When generalizing about any group, it’s first necessary to recognize that not everybody in any particular group acts like everyone else. There is often just as much variation within each group, as there is between groups.

[C19fan]

Maybe it is my Generation Xer bias showing but the comparison makes Xers model employees in comparison to the high maintenance Millenials.

[Alex Murphy]

Maybe it is my Generation Xer bias showing but the comparison makes Xers model employees in comparison to the high maintenance Millenials.

Imagine how the Baby Boomers feel about them.

[ctdonath2]

Or us post-baby-boomers.

A great insight I had as a part-time professor was comprehending that such a large percentage of students, aka future workers, just won't work.

[TexasCajun]

How old is an Xer and how old is a Millennial?

I'm a late Boomer, mid 50s.

[C19fan]

Gen-Xer: born 1961 to 1981 (aged 34 to 54 today)
Millennial: born 1982-2002 (aged 13 to 33 today)

[NCDave]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz0o9clVQu8

[NCDave]

Millennials in the Workplace Training Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz0o9clVQu8

[MortMan]

3 words... “As an individual.”

the whole “generational differences” analysis is an excuse. If the individual fails to measure up to standards, they should be jettisoned. If they exceed some standards, but need help in others, try to help - but keep one finger on the jettison button if the areas they are weak in are important.

If you are surrounded by individuals who fail to meet standards, first consider whether your standards are reasonable. But also consider whether you are simply in the wrong workplace.

[JRandomFreeper]

Funny. As a Gen-X type, my best mentoring has been a Millenial who has had her art go to State in competition. She works hard on her art.

Her brother is the same with his talents, which aren't art..

Sometimes, I think those guys just need to be interacted with like they were humans, instead of part of a group.

/johnny

[xzins]

There is often just as much variation within each group, as there is between groups.

Which means there's little reality in these distinctions by "generation" that aren't better explained by age and interests.

[USMCPOP]

“I’m a late Boomer, mid 50s.”

I can be a Boomer or just an old fart. Depends on what I eat on any given day.

[rjsimmon]

Gen-Xer: born 1961 to 1981 (aged 34 to 54 today)

Baby Boomers went through 1964.

[BenLurkin]

I had the misfortune of supervising some Millenials.

Effing useless.

[cripplecreek]

I’m 50, I sigh a lot and go on about my business.

[Nowhere Man]

I’m 48, born in 1966, would fall into the X’er camp, but even so, sometimes it is tough to delineate boundaries. I consider myself a “Generation Joneser,” sort of like a fusion of some “Baby Boomer” and “X’er” traits. I remember watching the old shows like Star Trek, H.R. Pufenstuf and Banana Splits as well as the Moon Landings and black and white TV, but much too young to protest and so on. Even so, I’ve seen many god millennials and many bad ones. Still in some ways, I’m cautious optimistic about the future, many of them tend to be libertarian/conservative. One bad thing though, I had to explain who Perry Mason was. B-P

[Nowhere Man]

god = good

[Incorrigible]

Bump

[ansel12]

1961 is boomer.

Boomers run from 1946 through 1964.

[enraged]

Exactly. Explain it this way “work hard or get fired” end of story.

[dsrtsage]

Millenials are easy to deal with as long as they have a free hour at work to go to a safe room with cookies, and playdough and juice and stuff