Get a Grip, Boomers

As we made our way through the most recent season of graduation speeches, I was absolutely mortified to hear that Baby Boomers (1946-1964) all over the nation were apologizing to graduating Gen-Yers (also know as Millennials, 1982-2001) about the mess we’d made of the world.

The Governor of Indiana called the Boomers “self-absorbed [and] self-indulgent.” Thomas Freidman referred to the Boomers as “the grasshopper generation, eating through just about everything like hungry locusts.”

Even Ken Burns, who should know his history, opined that the boomers tragedy was to “squander the legacy handed to them by the generation from World War II.”

That particular WWII generation, by the way, used to be called the “Silent Generation” until Tom Brokaw stuck his big fat nose into everything and decided they were the “Greatest Generation.”

I don’t have a particular bone to pick with the Silents, though I should point out, just for the record, that if living through an economic Depression makes you great, there have been a half-dozen of those generations in American history. And while the Silents certainly sacrificed in WWII, the brains who planned the victory--leaders like Eisenhower--were from the so-called “Lost Generation.”

If you want to see a war the Silents helped plan and execute, think Vietnam. Not good. And we’d still have a lot of separate-but-equal civil rights misery if the Boomers had accepted that particular legacy from the Silents (thanks again, Ken Burns).

Like I said, Brokaw should have stayed out of it and just left the Silents alone. They have contributed a lot, no question. And the Boomers like them, so long as they remain silent--and turn in their driver’s licenses and get off the road before, say, they turn 100.

As for Gen X (1961-1981)—slackers all! If the Boomers are driving the bus to perdition, Gen X is sitting in the back seat, hurling epithets at the driver while sipping a latte and enjoying the view.

(For an earlier--and perhaps more balanced--look at generations, see here.)

Now that we’ve dismissed those two annoying generations, Boomers need to turn their sights on those pesky Gen Ys—our own children. We love them for sure, but Boomers were born competitive and we don’t intend to yield an inch to the Gen Ys now entering the workforce.

So, it was with great surprise that I read the July-August 2009 Harvard Business Review article by Sylvia Ann Hewlett, Laura Sherbin, and Karen Sumberg called "How Gen Y & Boomers Will Reshape Your Agenda."

Huh? Do you mean to say, after despoiling the Universe, the Boomers have something in common with Gen Y?

It’s even better than that. The authors note:

The combination of Generation Y eagerly advancing up the professional ranks and Baby Boomers often refusing to retire has, over the course of a few short years, dramatically shifted the composition of the workforce; each of these generations is roughly twice the size of Generation X, which lies between them.

In military terms, Gen X, this is called a pincer movement. Be afraid.

Here, then, are the surprising takeaways from the article:

1. Given the large size of these generational cohorts—relative to Generation X—Boomer and Gen Y workplace demands have significant practical implications for how employers should design work environments to attract and keep talent.

2. Both Boomers and Gen Ys want to contribute to society through their labor; seek flexible working arrangements; value social connections at work and loyalty to a company; and prize other rewards of employment over monetary compensation. Both Boomers and Gen Ys are drawn to opportunities that allow time out to explore passions, hobbies, and good works.

3. Time Warner recently developed a mentoring program that engages people on both ends of their careers. In this case, some of the company’s senior executives were challenged to stay at the forefront of a rapidly evolving new-media landscape. Time launched Digital Reverse Mentoring where college students mentor senior executives on emerging digital trends, in the process teaching them about their values, behaviors and communications styles.

Plus, the Boomers had someone to get them coffee.

Only kidding.

4. Conversely, 42% of Gen Ys go to Boomers for mentoring, and their motto seems to be “Trust those over 50.” Heck, 42% of GenY ladies and 30% of GenY gents speak to their parents every day. (How else do you think they pay the rent to the Boomer landlords?)

5. 86% of Gen Ys and 85% of Boomers say it’s important that their work involve “giving back.” (Gen X are at 76%. Take that, Tom Friedman.)

6. A whopping 45% of Gen Ys expect to work for their current employer for their entire career. (Wow--that certainly breaks a stereotype.)

7. Gen Ys rank high-quality colleagues, flexible work arrangements a steady rate of advancement and promotion as rewards as important as compensation. Boomers rank high-quality colleagues, flexible work arrangements and an intellectually stimulating workplace as important as compensation. Not really much different.

So if Boomers and Gen Y are so much alike, why all the pathetic groveling at graduation?

C’mon, Boomers, get a grip. This is embarrassing. We’re half-way through the third lap of a four-lap mile and the mea culpas are already making my teeth hurt.

The truth is, Gen X and Gen Y, we’re not as strong or as good looking as you. (Though, of course, we used to be much stronger and much better looking.) But 50 or 60 years on this earth means we are sneakier. Much sneakier. And we’re done apologizing.

Indeed, that is the sustainable competitive advantage of the Baby Boomers: unapologetic scheming. And we plan to use it to its full advantage.

First of all, we’re not retiring for another 25 years. In the immortal words of Al Haig, “We are in control here.” And we just might sign up for a Facebook account someday. You’ve got that to worry about.

Second, we might also fix some of the broken things. Or at least make them a heck of a lot better. Then what will you have to complain about? That the iPhone 3G S is on backorder? (Steve Jobs: Unapologetic Boomer Supreme.)

Worse than that, and believe me on this: We’re never giving up our driver’s licenses. Maybe Dean Kamens (another Unapologetic Scheming Boomer) will invent a car we don’t have to steer. Maybe we’ll just run you off the roads we repaired with our magnificent stimulus package.

No matter. Just mark my words: We are Boomers, and we’re driving forever.

Posted by Entrepreneur Generations

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