With Generation Z just starting to enter the workforce, companies now employ workers representing six distinct generations (as defined by the Pew Research Center). A few members of the Greatest Generation, born before 1928, are still working, as are a considerable number of the Silent Generation (born between 1928 and 1945). Baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are still prevalent and retiring at lower numbers than historical trends indicate. GenX (born between 1965 and 1980) are still very much in the workplace, while Millennials (born between 1981 and 1997) represent the largest number of employees in America today. Each of these generations has been defined with different values, different expectations, and different generational experiences that influence their world views. In this episode of Circle of Fellows, four Fellows of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) discuss the role communicators can play in addressing generations and how the demographic fits among other employee breakouts.

Resources from this discussion:

* Craft Better Messages for Each Generation with More Nuanced Profiles, from the December 2016 issue of IABC’s CW

* Leverage the Strength of Each Generation in the Workplace, from the December 2016 issue of IABC’s CW

* Millennials are Managing Up, from the December 2016 issue of IABC’s CW

* Working with Millennials: 3 important considerations, from the IABC CW Observer Blog

About the panel:

Paul Sanchez recently retired from Buck Consultants, a Xerox company, where he started in 2012. Paul was responsible for consulting operations in four locations, with over 100 employees. Buck serves clients in all sectors, bringing human resource solutions and integrated technology platforms promoting workforce engagement and productivity.  He also is principal of CSF Consulting, addressing change management, organizational communication, and employee research. Previous positions include stints in London and New York with Mercer Human Resource Consulting as Global Director of Organization Research and Effectiveness.

Mark Schumann is the founder and principal of re-communicate. Most recently, he was VP of marketing and communications for Western Connecticut Health Network. He served as IABC’s chair in 2009-2010 and is currently IABC’s liaison to the Global Alliance. He was a managing principal and global communication practice leader at Towers Perrin for 26 years.

Jim Shaffer — Jim is a business advisor, leadership coach, author, speaker. As leader of the Jim Shaffer Group, he helps organizations accelerate results through superior strategy execution. The Jim Shaffer Group creates hard business results by translating the business strategy to the people who need to implement it, aligning systems, processes, and culture to make the gains sustainable.

Angela Sinickas is the founder of Sinickas Communications, which has worked with companies, organizations and governments in 32 countries on six continents. Her clients include 25% of the Forbes Top 100 largest global companies. Before starting her own consulting firm, she held positions from editor to vice president in for-profit and government organizations, and worked as a senior consultant and practice le...