lemonlimekids

leading meetings can be fun! and complex! yet, what happens when you add in a variety of ages to a meeting? have you ever led or participated in a meeting where 3 or 4 generations were present? i have, and while i think it's fantastic when multiple ages are sitting around the table together at a meeting, it can also add a few complexities. while it may be impossible to lead a meeting catered perfectly to everyone's needs, it is important to be aware of the dynamics.

meeting tip #25: consider the various generations sitting in your meeting

1. be mindful of the generations present in your meetings. a few brief generational descriptions from resonate or die. how do these characteristics affect the way you lead meetings?

folks 65 and older are part of the veteran generation. they were heavily influenced by the great depression, WWII and the rise of labor unions. those strong events yield values of respect for tradition and authority, hard work, honor and delayed rewards.

baby boomers (ages 49-64) experienced the assassinations of JFK and martin luther king, women’s and civil rights movements and the job market boom. the importance of professional identity, fairness, and “paying your dues” defines many from this era.

we saw a slow shift in the 70’s and 80’s as gen X (ages 29-49) grew up. corporate downsizing, the tripling of the divorce rate and AIDS shaped this generation to value autonomy, mobility, personal independence and results.

finally, gen Yers (ages 18-29) have grown up in a digital world. the information age has exploded, 9/11 and schoolyard violence have influenced a generation who values diversity, civic duty and immediacy.

2. be mindful of your forms of communication: if may seem like extra work, but if you are able to utilize various forms of communication during a meeting, you ensure the best possible results! when passing along an agenda, consider sending it in multiple formats: email, paper, text, or even posted on a blog. while leading a meeting, consider multiple mediums to communicate a point: show a training video, text participants an interactive question, record an audio of your voice, or pass around a magazine article.

3. be open to various forms of participation: texting during a meeting holds different meaning for different generations. for one generation - it communicates disrespect. for another generation - it highlights multi-tasking and full participation. if you have a group (of various ages) that meets regularly, discuss the different forms of participation (texting, verbally responding, internally reflecting, writing, stepping out to take a phone call, etc.) and what each form means to each person. after listening and understanding each person's perspective, together as a group, make decisions on the forms of participation that are best for the whole group.

the final word: food is the common language that unites all generations.