I attended  a great training program this week through Virginia Commonwealth University's Performance Management Group. (If you have the opportunity to attend a seminar there, they do an incredible job with work and management skills.)

In today's session, the instructor talked about the four generations in the workplace. It was really enlightening to learn about the Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, and the Millennials. I'm definitely from the Gen X world, but I've been mentored and teamed with Baby Boomers for the last fifteen years, so I exhibit some of their characteristics too.

The instructor provided historical and technological timelines of the four groups, and it was interesting to see that we didn't have an explosion of technological advancements until the 1960s and beyond. Our culture, history, and our surroundings do have an effect on who we are and how we work. The attitudes, motivators, and goals of each group are different. (Hey, I'm in the age group that was first generation "Sesame Street" and MTV.)

For additional information, the instructor suggested Nancy Ahlrichs' Igniting Gen B and Gen V: The New Rules of Engagement and Laura Bernstein's Generations Working Together.

Thanks, Terry, Lesa, Tammy, and Susan! I really enjoyed the seminar.