Generational Smash-ups: Creating your strategy to prevent generational collisions

Caldwell Consulting, Ltd. 2007, All rights reserved. www.dougcaldwell.net, 214.641.4084.Caldwell Consulting, Ltd. 2007, All rights reserved. www.dougcaldwell.net, 214.641.4084.

Generational Generational Smash-upsSmash-ups

Revised 04/06/2007Revised 04/06/2007Listen to audio @Listen to audio @

http://www.gabcast.com/index.php?a=search&query=caldwdo&submit=Gohttp://www.gabcast.com/index.php?a=search&query=caldwdo&submit=Go


What are your What are your generational experiences?generational experiences?

• Use the 5X8 cards and crayons.

• Use only graphics or numbers that illustrates significant life experiences between ages of 12 to mid-20s for you.

• Describe your sign with your table partners.

• Mine is sailing instructor, class of 1965, USMC.

65


Our AgendaOur Agenda ObservationsObservations

• Your experience cardsYour experience cards• Decades of history in 4.5 minutesDecades of history in 4.5 minutes

DiscussionsDiscussions• Shared experiences from videoShared experiences from video• Which cohort are you?Which cohort are you?• What makes a generation?What makes a generation?

DiscoveryDiscovery• Putting the pieces togetherPutting the pieces together• What’s your strategy worth in the marketplace?What’s your strategy worth in the marketplace?

DecisionDecision• What’s your SMART strategy?What’s your SMART strategy? Bonus item: Complete the

generational assessment quiz attached.

Bonus item: Complete the generational assessment quiz attached.


About 50 Years of History by Billy JoelAbout 50 Years of History by Billy Joel

What are start and end years for song?What are start and end years for song? Most significant event(s) for you and Most significant event(s) for you and

table partners during these years?table partners during these years? Write down as many events as you Write down as many events as you

remember, quantity matters.remember, quantity matters.

Bonus Question: Who appears twice in the video?Bonus Question: Who appears twice in the video?

We Can’t Start the Fire. ©Copyright: 1989 Joel Songs; All rights controlled and administered by EMI Blackwood Music, Inc All rights reserved, International copyright secured

We Can’t Start the Fire. ©Copyright: 1989 Joel Songs; All rights controlled and administered by EMI Blackwood Music, Inc All rights reserved, International copyright secured


Generational Generational CohortsCohorts

As of 2006

Birth Years

•Seasoned Matures >61+

1909-1945

•Boomers 42-60 1946-1964

•Gen X 27-41 1965-1979

•Millennials < 26 1980-2000

“…question is not how old are people now, but when were they young”


What makes a Generation?What makes a Generation?

Common experiences

+ Shared values

Bonus ??: What are the events in the photos?

Bonus ??: What are the events in the photos?


Putting the Generational Puzzle TogetherPutting the Generational Puzzle Together Two rectangular puzzlesTwo rectangular puzzles

• 20 pieces each, 5X4 row/column20 pieces each, 5X4 row/column• Each Each rowrow is same generation is same generation• Each Each columncolumn is same value word is same value word• One blank column on each puzzleOne blank column on each puzzle

Your team taskYour team task• Put the puzzles togetherPut the puzzles together• ““Post-It” blank pieces with Post-It” blank pieces with common common

experiencesexperiences for that generation for that generation• Discuss/discover your resultsDiscuss/discover your results

SuggestionSuggestion• Collect all pieces that have same value Collect all pieces that have same value

word togetherword together• Collect all blank pieces togetherCollect all blank pieces together

World Record assembly 14:12 minWorld Record assembly 14:12 min


Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Realistic

Timely

= S*M*A*R*T* strategy

What’s your S*M*A*R*T* strategy to prevent generational collisions?


Is your strategy worth “35” points?Is your strategy worth “35” points?1.1. Use a 3X5 cardUse a 3X5 card

• Write down your best SMART strategyWrite down your best SMART strategy• Must be completed within 48-72 hours by you.Must be completed within 48-72 hours by you.

2.2. Start signalStart signal. Get up and exchange cards with many people.. Get up and exchange cards with many people.

3.3. Stop signalStop signal• FREEZE, find a partnerFREEZE, find a partner• Discuss the strategy on the two cards and award points.Discuss the strategy on the two cards and award points.• Split seven points in any combination Split seven points in any combination [0 + 7, 5 + 2, 4 + 3, etc ][0 + 7, 5 + 2, 4 + 3, etc ]

between the two cards.between the two cards.• Write the score [0-7] for that strategy on the back of Write the score [0-7] for that strategy on the back of

that card.that card.

4.4. Repeat exchanges/scoring four more timesRepeat exchanges/scoring four more times

5.5. After fifth round, return to your seat, add up score on the After fifth round, return to your seat, add up score on the card.card.


Moving organizations from Moving organizations from conversations to actionconversations to action

• Doug Caldwell, The Success Facilitator

• +1.214.641.4084

• [email protected]

• www.dougcaldwell.net

• View/download this show @ www.slideshare.net

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Generational Smash-ups: Creating your strategy to prevent generational collisions