Wow, what an experience. She Speaks 2009 was totally awesome. Having the opportunity to share with all the women information on Generational Diversity was incredible. Because Amy and I shared a lot of information, we have decided to place it on this blog so below are the notes from the session. Enjoy ladies and anyone else. Also, let us know what you think.
I. Biblical Mandate for Connecting Generations
A. Mary and Elizabeth
· Read Luke 1:35-38
· A teenager’s need to tell a friend to make it real
· Mary was a teen girl with a need for connection
· God did not disappoint her.
· Read Luke 1:39-45
· God connected Mary with an older woman who could not only BE with her but encourage and affirm her.
· God desires to connect generations. It’s His idea!
B. Titus 2
· Read Titus 2:3-5
· Paul was instructing Titus to teach the various groups in the church
· Titus instructed the older women
o Not to slander, talk about others, drink heavily,
o But to teach the younger women to: love their husbands and children, to live wisely and pure, work in their home, to do good, to be submissive
o ALL SO THAT God’s word would be HONORED!
* The goal of connecting generations is so that God’s Word is honored.
Today’s goal is to understand each generation and to strengthen women’s ministry by learning practical methods for including them all.
II. Who Are They?
A. Builders (1901-1942/1946) Women from 67-108
What they’ve experienced:
· The Great Depression
· World War II
· Radio and the Big Band Era
· Heros: The Lone Ranger, Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio
· Because of these experiences, they are influenced by military backgrounds and comfortable with conformity and top-down management styles
· Value structure and discipline and following the rules
Strengths:
· Loyal—to careers and causes
· Team players
· Willing to sacrifice
· Bring a conservative voice to a group
· Respect authority
· Known for their integrity
Challenges:
· Desire respect for their knowledge –ask for their input, work on implementation together
· Motivated by verbal or written recognition, awards and public acknowledgement—be intentional about thanking Builders
· Desire to be mentors—if you are a younger leader, tap into Builders’ life experience and wisdom
Communication:
· Person to person
· Handwritten notes
B. Boomers (1943/1946-1960) 76 million; Women from 66-49
What they’ve experienced:
o Vietnam War (1968) & Anti-War demonstrations
o MLK, John & Robert Kennedy Assassinations
o Beatles
o Woodstock, hippies, drugs, flower power, tie die shirts, afros
o Father Knows Best/Leave it to Beaver
o First to grow up with TV in the home
o Mod Clothing
o Beatles/Motown Sound/Motown Sound
o Transistor Radios
o Military Draft
o Sandwich Generation (have to care for aging parents and school age/college kids simultaneously)
o Heroes: Ozzie & Harriet, Ed Sullivan, Captain Kangaroo, First Boomer on record based on 1946 year-Kathleen Casey-Kirschling (1/1/46 at 12:00:01am)
Strengths:
o More liberal
o High concern for aging
o Comprise Lion’s Share of political, cultural, industrial, academic leadership class in the US
o 1st built computer and wireless communication devices
o Show care and concern about next generations
o Great leadership qualities
o Exhibit high expectations
o Idealists, great visionaries
o Diverse in thought and policy
o Nurturers
Challenges:
o Helicopter Parents (hover over Gen X & Y kids)
o Life was catered to them as postwar babies
o 1st to be marketed to thus creating a great desire to buy
o High income/big spenders (money management a challenge)
o Freedom movements which contribute to anti-bellum behavior
o Have a high need for respect
o Like others to look up to them for advice, guidance and wisdom
o Desire public recognition from managers and superiors
Communications:
o Desire face to face interaction (Generally not likely to forget things, engagement dates, etc.
o Want handwritten notes but will email and text to maintain connection with current generation.
C. Gen X/ Me Generation (1961-1978) Women 48-31
What they’ve experienced:
· End of the Cold War
· Falling of the Berlin Wall
· First woman Supreme Court Justice and Presidential candidate
· First black Presidential candidate
· Space Shuttle Challenger
· Favorite tv shows: Sesame Street, The Brady Bunch and MTV
· What’s new? Microwave, the internet, the fight against AIDS
· Political distrust and apathy
· Increase in divorce
· Increase in working moms
· Concern over ecological issues
· Designer clothes for children (conflict between simplicity and materialism)
· Reject boomer values and try to embrace a work/life balance
Strengths:
· Self-driven, independent workers
· Create a fun and casual work environment
· Innovative
· Pragmatic
· Some technological savvy
· Bring a balance of work and rest
Challenges:
· Hazy sense of self identity—help to define roles and tasks
· Prefers to work independently—clear roles and tasks in a team
· Judgmental of Boomers’ style—do team building, get-to-know you times
· Don’t like many rules—encourage, keep rules to a necessary minimum, build relationship
· Communication:
· Well-produced mass mail
· Email—preferred
· Blogs
· Facebook
· Texting (some)
D. Gen Y ( 1978-2002) Women 31-7; 78-82 million-Me, however I am a CUSP-defined as a person on the edge of both generations and have strong characteristics of both
What they’ve experienced:
· Nurtured all their lives
· High influence of electronic age
· Waco, Texas Compound deaths
· Oklahoma City bombings
· Colombine High School Shootings
· 9/11
· War in Iraq
· Nuclear threat from North Korea
· Hip Hop/Rap, R & B, Michael Jackson
· Two parents working
· ½ marriages ending in divorce
· Work balanced around social and other commitments
· Never experienced life without computers
· Childhood activities-always scheduled, everyone wins, no losers
Strengths:
· Very technologically savvy
· Neo-traditional
· Optimistic
· Definite display of work/life balance
· Open to constant feedback
· Peer oriented
· Work in teams, all must do their equal share
· Desire to network and build relationships and lasting connections
· Are green, ecological, and environmentally aware
Challenges:
· Technologically overloaded
· Flexibility-Life is not all about work so this may complicate their work/social/church environment
· Need consistent feedback which may halter success
· Product of helicopter parents and therefore decision making is a challenge
· Ambitious and clueless
· They are their first and main priority
· Collide with Boomers/Builders particularly over time/work ethic
· Not loyal to companies or organizations but to people
Communications:
· Email is a must
· Facebook-don’t make it without it
· MySpace-one hobby done for fun & for hours
· Texting-Generally don’t have a cell phone plan without unlimited data plan or text
· Blogs/Twitter/Photo-bucket-site arms-more ways to communicate and keep in touch with friends
Now that we’ve learned all about the various generations that exist, let’s ponder a few questions just to get our minds thinking about a few things.
III. Questions for Reflection
1. Does your women’s ministry struggle with connecting women of all ages?
2. What characteristics of other generations frustrate you?
3. How have your generational experiences differed from others?
4. What ideas, perspectives and goals do you have that might frustrate other generations?
5. What am I willing to do to create harmony, mutual respect and team effort within our multigenerational workforce/church/community organizations?
In thinking about the varied answers to these questions, let’s look at how we can practically apply the information we’ve learned and create some win-win answers to the questions I’ve posed to you.
IV. Application
A. Build a Multi-Generational Team
· Refer to “How to Ruin a Women’s Ministry” article
· Make room at the table, be intentional
· There are blessings that each generation has to add. Each must be valued.
· Story about generational conflict at Brookwood (WMU vs Women’s Ministry)
· Mona as a bridge-builder
· Find an influential, godly older woman to be part of your team. Ask her for input in building a diverse team. Let her do the invitations.
B. Planning Events and Bible Studies
· When planning with your leadership council or group, create a calendar for the whole year making sure each generation is addressed at some point during the year-This allows you to work backwards in your planning
· Plan events generationally
· Be intentional in deciding what the purpose of each event will be and who the target audience will be
· Gain input from a member of each generation that will be targeted-allow them to assist you in planning
· Example of age group planning
o Builder-Sewing a laptop case (Builders teaching Gen Y)
o Boomer-Christian author book club
o Gen X-21st century scrapbooking, possibly electronic
o Gen Y/Millenial-Facebook, MySpace, Twitter setup training session
C. Program Ideas
· Mentoring Ministry
· A natural fit AND God’s plan
· Many kinds: formal (Apples of Gold, other programs), informal, mixed-age Sunday school classes
· Highlight Giftings
· Older teach younger to cook, shop, can, cross-stitch (ie. Sister Cook—read description)
· Younger women teach older technology skills
· United Behind a Cause
· Sponsored children—Compassion and P31
· Stop human trafficking/children in the sex trade
· Fund-raising
· Letter-writing campaigns
· Prayer shawls knitted for those in need, blankets made for children in foster care
· Volunteering at a women’s shelter from domestic abuse
Generations not only can work together, they should. Become the champion for intergenerational ministry at your church: Pray, learn the traits of each generation, ask yourself questions for reflection, build a team, examine your communication (including your website), plan events and programs.
I. Biblical Mandate for Connecting Generations
A. Mary and Elizabeth
· Read Luke 1:35-38
· A teenager’s need to tell a friend to make it real
· Mary was a teen girl with a need for connection
· God did not disappoint her.
· Read Luke 1:39-45
· God connected Mary with an older woman who could not only BE with her but encourage and affirm her.
· God desires to connect generations. It’s His idea!
B. Titus 2
· Read Titus 2:3-5
· Paul was instructing Titus to teach the various groups in the church
· Titus instructed the older women
o Not to slander, talk about others, drink heavily,
o But to teach the younger women to: love their husbands and children, to live wisely and pure, work in their home, to do good, to be submissive
o ALL SO THAT God’s word would be HONORED!
* The goal of connecting generations is so that God’s Word is honored.
Today’s goal is to understand each generation and to strengthen women’s ministry by learning practical methods for including them all.
II. Who Are They?
A. Builders (1901-1942/1946) Women from 67-108
What they’ve experienced:
· The Great Depression
· World War II
· Radio and the Big Band Era
· Heros: The Lone Ranger, Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio
· Because of these experiences, they are influenced by military backgrounds and comfortable with conformity and top-down management styles
· Value structure and discipline and following the rules
Strengths:
· Loyal—to careers and causes
· Team players
· Willing to sacrifice
· Bring a conservative voice to a group
· Respect authority
· Known for their integrity
Challenges:
· Desire respect for their knowledge –ask for their input, work on implementation together
· Motivated by verbal or written recognition, awards and public acknowledgement—be intentional about thanking Builders
· Desire to be mentors—if you are a younger leader, tap into Builders’ life experience and wisdom
Communication:
· Person to person
· Handwritten notes
B. Boomers (1943/1946-1960) 76 million; Women from 66-49
What they’ve experienced:
o Vietnam War (1968) & Anti-War demonstrations
o MLK, John & Robert Kennedy Assassinations
o Beatles
o Woodstock, hippies, drugs, flower power, tie die shirts, afros
o Father Knows Best/Leave it to Beaver
o First to grow up with TV in the home
o Mod Clothing
o Beatles/Motown Sound/Motown Sound
o Transistor Radios
o Military Draft
o Sandwich Generation (have to care for aging parents and school age/college kids simultaneously)
o Heroes: Ozzie & Harriet, Ed Sullivan, Captain Kangaroo, First Boomer on record based on 1946 year-Kathleen Casey-Kirschling (1/1/46 at 12:00:01am)
Strengths:
o More liberal
o High concern for aging
o Comprise Lion’s Share of political, cultural, industrial, academic leadership class in the US
o 1st built computer and wireless communication devices
o Show care and concern about next generations
o Great leadership qualities
o Exhibit high expectations
o Idealists, great visionaries
o Diverse in thought and policy
o Nurturers
Challenges:
o Helicopter Parents (hover over Gen X & Y kids)
o Life was catered to them as postwar babies
o 1st to be marketed to thus creating a great desire to buy
o High income/big spenders (money management a challenge)
o Freedom movements which contribute to anti-bellum behavior
o Have a high need for respect
o Like others to look up to them for advice, guidance and wisdom
o Desire public recognition from managers and superiors
Communications:
o Desire face to face interaction (Generally not likely to forget things, engagement dates, etc.
o Want handwritten notes but will email and text to maintain connection with current generation.
C. Gen X/ Me Generation (1961-1978) Women 48-31
What they’ve experienced:
· End of the Cold War
· Falling of the Berlin Wall
· First woman Supreme Court Justice and Presidential candidate
· First black Presidential candidate
· Space Shuttle Challenger
· Favorite tv shows: Sesame Street, The Brady Bunch and MTV
· What’s new? Microwave, the internet, the fight against AIDS
· Political distrust and apathy
· Increase in divorce
· Increase in working moms
· Concern over ecological issues
· Designer clothes for children (conflict between simplicity and materialism)
· Reject boomer values and try to embrace a work/life balance
Strengths:
· Self-driven, independent workers
· Create a fun and casual work environment
· Innovative
· Pragmatic
· Some technological savvy
· Bring a balance of work and rest
Challenges:
· Hazy sense of self identity—help to define roles and tasks
· Prefers to work independently—clear roles and tasks in a team
· Judgmental of Boomers’ style—do team building, get-to-know you times
· Don’t like many rules—encourage, keep rules to a necessary minimum, build relationship
· Communication:
· Well-produced mass mail
· Email—preferred
· Blogs
· Texting (some)
D. Gen Y ( 1978-2002) Women 31-7; 78-82 million-Me, however I am a CUSP-defined as a person on the edge of both generations and have strong characteristics of both
What they’ve experienced:
· Nurtured all their lives
· High influence of electronic age
· Waco, Texas Compound deaths
· Oklahoma City bombings
· Colombine High School Shootings
· 9/11
· War in Iraq
· Nuclear threat from North Korea
· Hip Hop/Rap, R & B, Michael Jackson
· Two parents working
· ½ marriages ending in divorce
· Work balanced around social and other commitments
· Never experienced life without computers
· Childhood activities-always scheduled, everyone wins, no losers
Strengths:
· Very technologically savvy
· Neo-traditional
· Optimistic
· Definite display of work/life balance
· Open to constant feedback
· Peer oriented
· Work in teams, all must do their equal share
· Desire to network and build relationships and lasting connections
· Are green, ecological, and environmentally aware
Challenges:
· Technologically overloaded
· Flexibility-Life is not all about work so this may complicate their work/social/church environment
· Need consistent feedback which may halter success
· Product of helicopter parents and therefore decision making is a challenge
· Ambitious and clueless
· They are their first and main priority
· Collide with Boomers/Builders particularly over time/work ethic
· Not loyal to companies or organizations but to people
Communications:
· Email is a must
· Facebook-don’t make it without it
· MySpace-one hobby done for fun & for hours
· Texting-Generally don’t have a cell phone plan without unlimited data plan or text
· Blogs/Twitter/Photo-bucket-site arms-more ways to communicate and keep in touch with friends
Now that we’ve learned all about the various generations that exist, let’s ponder a few questions just to get our minds thinking about a few things.
III. Questions for Reflection
1. Does your women’s ministry struggle with connecting women of all ages?
2. What characteristics of other generations frustrate you?
3. How have your generational experiences differed from others?
4. What ideas, perspectives and goals do you have that might frustrate other generations?
5. What am I willing to do to create harmony, mutual respect and team effort within our multigenerational workforce/church/community organizations?
In thinking about the varied answers to these questions, let’s look at how we can practically apply the information we’ve learned and create some win-win answers to the questions I’ve posed to you.
IV. Application
A. Build a Multi-Generational Team
· Refer to “How to Ruin a Women’s Ministry” article
· Make room at the table, be intentional
· There are blessings that each generation has to add. Each must be valued.
· Story about generational conflict at Brookwood (WMU vs Women’s Ministry)
· Mona as a bridge-builder
· Find an influential, godly older woman to be part of your team. Ask her for input in building a diverse team. Let her do the invitations.
B. Planning Events and Bible Studies
· When planning with your leadership council or group, create a calendar for the whole year making sure each generation is addressed at some point during the year-This allows you to work backwards in your planning
· Plan events generationally
· Be intentional in deciding what the purpose of each event will be and who the target audience will be
· Gain input from a member of each generation that will be targeted-allow them to assist you in planning
· Example of age group planning
o Builder-Sewing a laptop case (Builders teaching Gen Y)
o Boomer-Christian author book club
o Gen X-21st century scrapbooking, possibly electronic
o Gen Y/Millenial-Facebook, MySpace, Twitter setup training session
C. Program Ideas
· Mentoring Ministry
· A natural fit AND God’s plan
· Many kinds: formal (Apples of Gold, other programs), informal, mixed-age Sunday school classes
· Highlight Giftings
· Older teach younger to cook, shop, can, cross-stitch (ie. Sister Cook—read description)
· Younger women teach older technology skills
· United Behind a Cause
· Sponsored children—Compassion and P31
· Stop human trafficking/children in the sex trade
· Fund-raising
· Letter-writing campaigns
· Prayer shawls knitted for those in need, blankets made for children in foster care
· Volunteering at a women’s shelter from domestic abuse
Generations not only can work together, they should. Become the champion for intergenerational ministry at your church: Pray, learn the traits of each generation, ask yourself questions for reflection, build a team, examine your communication (including your website), plan events and programs.
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