Generationally Savvy

Generation X "Box" and Beyond - Part 2 of 2

The gamer generation has, in an important way, grown up in a different reality than the rest of us. The billions of dollar and hours they have spent in the virtual worlds has shaped how they relate and influenced their belief of what they should do to "make it" in "the world".

Part II - The WAY IT IS in the Gamer World

How People Relate

• It’s all about competition - You're always competing; even if you collaborate with others, there is some character or score to beat.
• Relationships are structured - To make the game work, everyone must play a role such as competitor/ally, or boss/subordinate.
• We are all alone - The gaming experience is basically solitary, even if played in groups.
• Young people rule - Young people dominate gaming. No attention is paid to elders. Paying your dues takes a short time.
• People are simple - Their skill may be complex, multi-dimensional, and user-configurable, but their personality types and behaviors are simple.

What You Should Do

• Rebel - Edginess and attitude are dominant elements of the culture.
• Be a hero - You always get the star's role; that is the only way to succeed or get satisfaction.
• Bond with people who share your game experience, not your national or cultural background - It's a very global world, in design, consuption, and characters. It creates an expectation of diversity in business life as well.
• Make your own way in the world - Leaders are irrelevant and often evil; ignore them.
• Tune out and have fun - When reality is boring, you hop into the game world. The whole experience of gaming is escapist.

Along with these new "rules' of engagement and gaming come expectations about what the workplace will be like i.e. diverse, fair, immediately interactive and welcoming to the new ideas and creations of the newest member on the team.

Business leaders looking to attract, grow and retain younger talent need to ask themselves, "Are we ready and willing to play the game?"

Generation X "Box" and Beyond - Part I of 2

If you’ve been reading along, it’s no surprise to you that each generation has unique forces in their lives shaping the way they make decisions and approach the world.

One of the major forces impacting the way Gen Xers and Millennials see business and beyond, is growing up in the time of video games.

The rules surrounding games create a world and reality that departs from the "business as usual" model of what we know today as Corporate America. Although it may seem to Baby Boomers and Traditionalists that "games are games" and business and play should not be confused, the rules of gaming are filtering into the way Xers and Millennials make daily business decisions. 

In "Got Game" published by Harvard Business School Press, we see how being a “Gamer” has influenced Gen Xers and Millennials systematic approach to working and learning.

Drawing on the work in "Got Game" by Beck and Wade the following rules illustrate the lessons games are "teaching" Xers and Millennials about "the world".

Part I

• The Individual's Role
• How The World Works

Part II

• What You Should Do
• How People Relate

Part I - The WAY IT IS in Gamer World

The Individual's Role

·         You’re the star - you are the center of attention of every game.

·         You’re the boss - the world is very responsive to your every choice and wish.

·         You’re the customer and the customer is always right - the experience is design for your satisfaction and entertainment; the opponents are tough, but never too tough.

·         You’re an expert - you have the experience of getting really, really good at something.

·         You’re a tough guy - you can't be hurt - no matter how many crashes and spills you take.

How The World Works

·         There’s always an answer - you might be frustrated for a while, but keep trying - it's there.

·         Everything is possible - you do amazing things and see other players defeat hundreds of bad guys single handedly.

·         The world is a logical, human-friendly place - games are basically fair. Events may be random, but not inexplicable.

·         Trial and error is almost always the best plan - It's the only way to advance in most games.

·         Things are (unrealistically) simple - you can figure a game out, completely. Games are built on models. Even complex models can be figured out.

These rules set-up the player to feel that high-risk and jumping headlong into uncertainty are the ways to win the game. The more you "die trying" or "crash and burn" the faster you develop mastery.

Check back for Part II  on - How People Relate & What You Should Do.

Generational Contributions - What Traditionalists, Boomers, X-ers and Millennials Bring to the Party

When you think about it over the centuries one thing has remained constant...... No matter what generation you are a part of, when you entered the workforce your parent's generation thought you: lacked work ethic, were rude, disloyal, lazy, etc.

A famous quote by Socrates underlines this point, "The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they allow disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children now are tyrants." So it's nothing new, but oftentimes we over look what each generation brought to the party of life and work.

Our Traditionalists ages 61-79 created a solid foundation by the sweat of their brows, literally. If you consider it from Maslow's Hierarchy they were focused on the basics, food, shelter, clothing, safety. They made sure there was a free democratic union for us to live, love and flourish in today.

Our Boomers ages 43-60 got to move up the hierarchy to new levels of self-actualization focusing on education, human rights, civil rights, womens rights. They started charities by the thousands. In 1928  there were 128 charities and foundations mostly started by private families. By 2000 there were 90,000 not-for-profit organizations started by individuals and public organizations. Optimistic, idealistic and competitive, their drive and need to make their mark had many positive impacts, as well as a few environmental draw backs.

That's where much of the Gen X generation have focused their energies. The consumer "pig and the python" phenomenon of the Boomers left the Xers asking, "Ok, but what's the impact of that on the environment for my children's future? While Boomers consumed, Xers conserve- the Three R's, Reduce, Re-use, Recycle.

In come the Millennials (Gen Y) and they more than any other generation have the freedom to ask (Why?) What's my purpose? Do I have a place here? Does this make a difference?

A Traditionalist would say, "Charity starts at home".

A Boomer would say "I'm going to start a charity and change the world." "I'm going to the moon! (or there abouts.)"

An X-er would say "I want to change the world but I'm going to start at the grass roots level one-to-one. Focus, focus, focus! I don't want to over promise and under deliver."

A Millennial, well changing the world is just what they do. Volunteering with their late-Boomer early X-er parents from the time they were in diapers. They have a resume of charity, innovative projects that would make a "Buckhead Betty" proud by the time they enter college.

When trying to attract and retain and X-ers or Millennials showcasing how your company supports and actively encourages their core values can go a long way to persuading them to choose to come to you. Before they care about what you do, they need to know you care about what they value.