158 • 100 GREAT BUSINESS IDEAS
In practice
The value of age-sensitive management is that employees are more
motivated and customers are better served. The key is certainly
not to discriminate on the basis of age, but rather to be sensitive to
the attitudes of all your employees. What one group favors may not
encourage or motivate another group of people of a different age.
-^ Silent veterans tend to have the most traditional ideas of
interaction, favoring formal contact and face-to-face meetings.
They typically value recognition of their skills and abilities.
- When managing baby boomers, clearly defi ne goals and break
down the process into a series of individual targets. Place an
emphasis on teamwork and motivational talks. Rewards should
be public, with noticeable displays of recognition. - Allow Generation Xers slightly more freedom to achieve their
targets: tell them what to do, but allow them to decide how to
achieve the goal. Keep channels of communication open to
allow ideas, opinions, and feedback to be discussed in a candid
and honest way. Practical rewards, such as days off or monetary
bonuses, are welcomed.
-^ Generation Y should be given plenty of opportunities to build
their skills and experience—view yourself as both an instructive
guide and a boss. Find out their personal goals, and make
broader company targets relevant to those individual goals.
Communication should be informal and positive.