Last evening I had the pleasure of joining other area education leaders at the University of Richmond to hear Mr. Jason Dorsey speak on the generational differences he’s seen in evidence he’s been collecting over the past 10 years. Jason has written 5 books, but he looks young; he’s among the generation he’s labeled “Gen Y,” which means he was born between the late 1970s and 1995. This means we have Gen Ys in our schools, but also Gen Ys in our schools as teachers.
Mr. Dorsey spoke at length about this generation and what makes them stand out. They value time more than money, and they hate PowerPoint presentations. Yet, they like short, concise communication that sums up the point in bullets.
Mr. Dorsey shared with us that generational differences are defined by many factors, including parenting trends, technology, economics, and pivotal events (political corruption, 9/11, natural disasters).
Dorsey also talked about my generation, “Gen X,” and the big generation before that, the “Baby Boomers.” Boomers are competitive and have the strongest work ethic… which for them means time. Dedication to a boomer means long hours. Gen Ys are willing to work for a challenge, but may do so outside of the frame of a normal work day. They take work into their homes and anywhere else they may have an inspiring idea. They aren’t necessarily tech savvy, they’re technology dependent.
The most important things Gen Ys value are lifestyle and relationships. The differences between the generations may cause friction or frustration, but each generation has real, positive things to add to the multi-generational workforce. Today in the U.S., four different generations can be found in many organizations. As it turns out, Gen Y gets along best with the mature generation.
Dorsey shared statistics of the makeup of generations in Chesterfield County Schools, where he had spent the earlier part of the day. Among the teachers, administrators, and other certified staff:
- 16% are Gen Y
- 27% are Gen X
- 54% are boomers
- 3% make up the mature generation
Gen Ys want instant gratification… The mature generation are satisfied with delayed gratification. And the most generational conflicts take place between Gens X and Y.
Dorsey was an engaging speaker who someday might find success as a comedian. He kept us well engaged by simply speaking (no slides). My thanks go to the Region 1 Superintendents’ Group for sponsoring this event, and Chesterfield County Schools for sharing Mr. Dorsey with us.