Hey, Workforce Pundits – Pre-Boomers Are Still Here!

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about those of us who are pre-Boomers. In general, we seem to be a forgotten group, especially those of us who immediately precede the elephant in the python (see The Little Prince).

This statement in an article from The Chicago Business Ledger caught my eye this morning:

The biggest emotional challenges stem from generational differences in values, beliefs, priorities and communication methods. That is a particularly potent problem in today’s work force, which consists of four generations: Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964); Cuspers (late Baby Boomers and early Generation X); Generation X (born 1965-1980); and Generation Y (born 1981-1994).

Hey!!!! We’re still here!!!! And we are, by the way, still working. Most of us will continue to work for a long time – some of us need to and many of us want to. We are C-level executives and business owners and college professors and directors of social service agencies. We are computer literate and many of us need to be surgically detached from our Blackberries. Ours are the positions succession planning processes are hoping to fill.

Karen, the bulk of your advice is excellent. Those of us who will be exiting the workforce over the next decade want to reach out to Gen X and Gen Y, understand their culture, entice them to feel our passion. We want to ensure the future. But please, remember that we’re not yet part of the past!