Communication and the Generation Gap

 

 

There are many reasons that ‘Baby Boomers’ and earlier generations have trouble communicating with ‘Gen Xers’ and later generations. From rapidly changing social and political climates, to a general fast-paced lifestyle where instant gratification is king, the young-adults and adolescents of today have very little in common with those that came before us.

One of the biggest hindrances to high-volume communication between generations however is technology. It seems like an oxymoron that something (the Internet) that has opened communication for most closes off easy communication for some. However, when looking at data that Pew Internet Research compiled between September and December of 2009, it is easy to see why that is the case.

Pew Research gathered data from people ages 12 to 65(+) and found that ‘Teens’ (ages 12-17) and ‘Young Adults’ (ages 18-29) both reported that 93% of their respective age groups were ‘regular’ internet users. Of those considered ‘Adults’ (ages 30-49 and 50-64) an 81% and 70% use were reported respectively. However, for those classified as ‘Adults’, (aged 65+), only 38% reported that they were ‘regular’ internet users.

While staying ‘in touch’ for those aged 12-49 via the internet is a relatively easy thing to do – because of the high internet use – once you start looking at the older generation (50+), it becomes more of a task due to the fact that the number of 50+ adults who use the internet simply isn’t as high as the younger age groups.

In addition to rapidly changing social and technological climates, younger generations live in a world where instant gratification is king. We want replies as fast as we can ask questions – largely due to our immersion in a world of sophisticated technology. The older generations – especially those aged 65+, seem to prefer a slower, more personal lifestyle. Even something as simple as a phone call is almost non-existent between some of the younger generations. Texting has replaced calling and voicemails, especially among friends.

While younger generations ‘communicate’ with one another more than they do with older generations, they don’t communicate as well. We no longer like to take the time to sit down and talk, we’ve been taught that time is money and because of that, the faster we get something accomplished – and are able to move on to the next task – the more likely we are to have some success.

An article written in Forbes Magazine in May of this year supports this. They, however, go further in the divide of the generations. According to the articles author, Scott Weiss, there is a communication gap between every generation. In a chart in his article, Mr. Weiss describes the preferred method of communication of each generation as follows:
Generation                 Age                 You Prefer…

Traditionalist               60+                  “Let’s have a conversation…”

Boomer                       50-59               “Call me on my cell…”

X’er                             35-49               “Send me an e-mail…”

Y’er                             30-34               “Text Me…”

Millennial                    20-29               “Facebook/Tweet to me…”

          While Mr. Weiss says that the tech-savvy younger generation may be at an advantage in some cases, it is also a disadvantage because of the fact that Millennials “lack the skills necessary for interpreting feelings, attitudes, reactions, and judgments”. This, Mr. Weiss says, is even more obvious when you look into cross-cultural circumstances – an essential part of today’s economy. 

 

 Works Cited:

Weiss, S. (2012, May 16). Generation gap: How technology has changed how we talk about work. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2012/05/16/generation-gap-how-technology-has-changed-how-we-talk-about-work/2/

Memorandum

To:          All Employees

CC:         Mrs. B. Heiss, CEO

From:     Allison M. Lowe, VP

Date:      11/11/2012

Re:         Unfortunate Situation Turned Positive.

On Friday, October 26^th, 2012, I had the unfortunate situation of “lost keys”. Due to the late hour – 8pm by the time I left the office – there were very few people still in the office. However, one of those still around was the Building Manager, Ms. Steele.

Because of the “open door” communication policy we implement. I was able to get a hold of her quickly. Within minutes, Ms. Steele had contacted all of the shuttle bus drivers who take employees from the parking garages to the office building, trying to see if anyone had turned keys into them. Additionally, Ms. Steele had reached a private car company, should I need to be driven home – free of charge to myself. After almost an hour of phone calls, we were finally put in touch with the Front Desk worker of our building who had been given the keys to my car (and house), and she let us know exactly where they were.

I strongly encourage all of you to not be afraid to use the “open door” communication we have, as it is an amazing thing for anyone to experience. Hopefully your experience does not begin the same way mine did, but ends similarly. Because of Ms. Steele’s quick action, and how easy and quickly correspondence took place, I was able to make it safely home before dark.

Confidential

 

What Makes "You" a Good Communicator?

Personal Interview: Part 'A'


 
Name of Interviewee:
Shelley McSherry Lowe
Executive Director of Career Services
Davenport University

Question:
What do you think it is that makes you 'good' at communicating?

Answer:
I think that the variety of people I speak with on a daily basis defiantly helps. I have to be able to go from talking to people with PhD's in Education, Business, Political Science, to talking to those who just passed their high school English classes. Being exposed to that variety of education allows you to notice small changes you need to make - especially with those who are more uneducated - in order to be understood.

In addition to that, my background with Management has really been an asset. Being a women in Management almost makes you prove yourself daily. Men especially are more likely to respect you if you prove to them you're either on or above their level intellectually. However, you have to be able to balance that with making sure you don't come across as arrogant.

Question:
What is it that you recommend kids in my generation do in order to become better with communication?

Answer:
Try to avoid taking shortcuts when you are typing. Be it with text messaging or with e-mail writings. Try not to use "shortened" words like "idk". The more you write, the better you will become at it, and in turn, the better your communication skills.


Common Mistakes in Written and Spoken Business Dealings: Part 'B'

Errors in Writing:

• Improper Grammar
• Misspelled Words
• Misused words
• Missing or Improper Punctuation
• Run-on Sentences
• Repetitive words in a Paragraph (i.e. Beginning every sentence with "what")
• Scattered, unclear thought process
  

Errors in Speaking:

• Rushing your Sentences 
• Mispronounced words
• Improper Word choice
• Little or no  Eye contact
•  Reading word for word from notes

TEAM FAQ'S: Part 'C'

Q: How to Write a Successful email?

A. Subject Lines are Headlines, Make One Point per Email, Specify the Response You Want, Using EOM Headlines (End of Message), Be a Good Correspondent.

Q: How to Dress for a Meeting?

A. Start by looking through business magazines and notice what the business style looks like. You will most likely find suits, skirts, ties, blouses and other sophisticated outfits. Check out what clothes you own. If you have a very small selection of professional clothes or one old interview suit from the 90s, then it is time for you to invest in a professional outfit for the conference.

Q: How to Stay Prepared for a Meeting?

A. Prepare a notice; this should include the date, time, agenda, and venue of the meeting. Distribute the notice to the members in good time for the meeting. Get basic items in place. Set out chairs and tables before the meeting begins. Provide pens and paper for everyone. Place a pitcher of water in the middle of the table and put glasses around the table.

Q: What is the best, most professional way for potential employees to submit their resume and cover letters to HR Managers?

A: Via PDF, rather than 'Word' document. All computers being used these days have the ability to open a PDF but there are times when issues arise between Mac and PC files. To bypass all of that, and making it easier on the recipient of your resume, convert the Word document on your end to a PDF before sending it off to whomever you are applying with.

Q: What are some of the biggest mistakes that a potential employee can make on his or her resume?

A: Spelling and grammar mistakes, hands down. In addition to that, if he or she mentions how "detail oriented" they are, yet fail to address the hiring manager by name (i.e. write "To Whom it may Concern" or "Dear Sir or Ma'am"), that throws up a 'red flag' that they are simply trying to look like they have skills that they may not actually possess.

Q: If an applicant sends their resume and cover letter via post, is there a preferred carrier?

A: And of the carriers – UPS, FedEx, USPS, or other are fine. However, sending them in a document envelope, rather than a traditional letter envelope is always best.

Q: How do I get a message across?

A: To get a message across one of the best ways to make sure it gets to the group or person properly is to meet face to face. This is a sure way to make sure they know the importance of the message by the tone of your voice and by the posture that is presented.

Q: How do you get rid of being nervous for a speech?

A: Though it seems very awkward, the best way to get rid of your nerves is to practice in front of a mirror. Everyone has been told to do this at one point, but the awkwardness tends to shy people away from trying it. You can memorize your speech completely, but if your not saying it out loud in front of a mirror or peers, the jitters will always still be there. Practice makes perfect.

Q: How do you make a speech engaging?

A: By asking questions, using real life examples and using visual aids, the audience is more likely to pay attention and stay engaged. Another way to capture your audience’s attention is to speak confidently and proudly.

Q: How do you approach your boss?

A: When approaching your boss you should be prepared with what you are going to talk about. Confidence is key, let him know you are prepared with what your presenting to him or her. You do not want to get to your boss then end up stuttering, forgetting what you really wanted to bring up and looking like you do not have it all together. He or she is the person you want to impress to let them know you are good at what you do and want to always be getting better. 

Q. How do you make an email more appealing to read?

A: Using formatting and layout can enhance your email to make it easier to read. Using transitions as well as writing in short, concise sentences can also help in make the email more appealing to read.

Q: Should I use visual aids?

A: Visual aids can help to enhance the piece but only when appropriate. For example, visual aids should not be used on a resume but during a presentation visual aids may help to enhance readability and catch focus.

Works Cited: 

Works Cited

ACT. "Examples of Common Business Writing Errors." WorkKeys®. ACT, n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http://www.act.org/workkeys/assess/bus_writ/errors.html>. 

Written and Spoken Employee Mistakes

Employee Mistakes - Written and Spoken
 

• Improper Grammar: In both spoken and written communication, using proper grammar is always a must- Especially in business. When e-mailing anyone in business, using "to" rather than "too" or "then" in place of "than" can make the sender seem as though he or she either is uneducated or doesn't pay enough attention to their spelling. In verbal conversations, the misuse of words can have the same result. 

• Empty or Misleading Subject Lines (E-Mails):
  A large number of e-mails are sent to everyone daily. In order to alert the receiver to the importance and meaning of an e-mail having a clear, concise subject line in vital. If you are e-mailing to inquire about a job but leave the subject line blank, it is highly likely that your e-mail will just be skipped over in lieu of one that is clearly titled "Inquiry About Marketing Job".

• Tone of Conversation:
  In spoken and written exchanges, it is vital to maintain a proper, professional tone. Until you know those you are speaking to or writing to well, it is best to avoid sarcasm of any kind to avoid offending anyone. In addition to that, it is also best to try to avoid a rising temper or any sort of emotional outburst.

• Run-on Sentences:
  Run on sentences can be a deadly mistake in business writing. If a reader encounters one and has to read and re-read something, it can cause them to just push aside the document all together.
• For example: I am writing today to inquire about the position you have open in your Marketing Department at XXX I feel that I would be a good fit for this job because of my creativity and my ability to multi-task and think on my feet.
• What it should read: I am writing today to inquire about the position you have open in your Marketing Department at XXX. I feel that I would be a good fit for this job because of my creativity, ability to multi-task, and my ability to think of my feet. 

What's Worse?:
I feel that written, rather than spoken errors are worse. This is because of the fact that spoken mistakes can be forgotten, or, at the very least, not easily recorded. Written documents are always going to be there, and always going to be traceable.

United States v. Germany Non-Verbal Communication

Dress and Etiquette - Differences:

Unlike in the United States, German businesspeople hold eye contact for extended periods of time - from the beginning to the end of the time you are speaking to someone. Whereas Americans may find this intimidating, Germans find that, if you don't continuously hold eye contact, it shows dishonesty.

A final, major difference between German and American business etiquette is that men always enter a room before women - even if they are on the same "level" (i.e. both upper management) within the company. In the United States, it is considered chivalrous for a man to hold a door open to a woman.

Dress and Etiquette - Similarities:

In Germany, much like the United States, business suites and attire is expected to be modest. Hem lines for women should err on the side of conservative, and colors should be dark greys, blacks, navy's, or creams.

In addition, jewelry, for both men and women, should not be "glitzy" or ostentatious.

Importance of Knowing these Differences:

Due to the fact that the United States is more and more having to compete in a Global market, knowing the mannerisms of other "super power" countries is vital. Being able to recognize the difference between how we as Americans act and how those overseas do could very well give a firm a competitive advantage over another, and thus, give that firm business over another.

Citation:

German verbal and nonverbal communication. (2011, October 13). Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/info_7979609_german-verbal-nonverbal-communication-styles.html

Article Review- Technology and Communication

Link to Article: http://ezproxy.adrian.edu:2051/hottopics/lnacademic/

Name of Article: New Africa Special: From Farming to Films, How the Web is Changing Africa

Author: Juliet Ehimuan

Found on: LexisNexis

Published: 8/26/2012

Summary:

In the article "...How the Web is Changing Africa", the author discusses how, in the past 5 years, Africa has managed to go from being a virtual "Dark Country" - called that due to its lack of any advanced technology- to being one where WiFi and other advanced technology is much more common.

One of the statistics given was that "In 2001, a sim card coast approximately $100... By 2009, you could buy a sim card for $1.33". This is something I found astounding... in less than ten years, a piece of technology that was almost unattainable for the vast majority of the population, to being close to ten times less expensive, and probably more affordable to ten times the number of people it was originally.

In addition to mentioning how technology is helping farmers - a potato farmer was able to find out why his plants were dying fast and was also able to track prices of crops like his so that he could be more competitive in the market.

Not only is the growing technology available in Africa helping farmers, as well are ordinary people remain connected to those outside of their immediate area, but it is helping to hold people in power responsible for their political wrong-doings.

Finally, the growing technology is helping the outside world see what struggles Africa is having in a much more immediate way. This, in turn, helps provide Africa with the aide it so desperately needs from the outside world.

Strengths of Article:

I thought the article was very concise in the way it was written. The author didn't embelish or use unnecessary text, just got straight to the point.

Another thing I liked was how she organized it. By beginning with a mention to the farmer who overcame a hardship as a direct result of the growing technology, the author catches our (or, at least my) attention, and makes me want to read on.

Weaknesses of Article:

The author doesn't include very many facts and numbers... a few here and there, but for the most part, it's just her writing. I am someone who needs those numbers or statistics. I think if there were more statistics in the article, I would have liked it much more.