Four Generations of Team Members Working in Harmony by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.

How can you, successfully run a business with your four generations of team members?

Recently I took my car to the Sears Tire Store as my front passenger tire had a slow leak in it. I had just been to the local car dealer to get an oil change and they said, "You will need a new tire which will cost you $280 plus tax, $140 for the tire and $140 for the labor. You can not patch this tire again." I left and went to Sears.

At the Sears Tire store I waited in line to speak to an associate. One associate, J, a Baby Boomer in his 50’s, was speaking to a customer and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Mature, around 70 years of age. When the associate looked up this customer’s record he said, “Your tires are 10 years old.”

My thinking was “he sure got his monies worth out of those tires!”

J’s customer, Mr. Mature asked, "Is the manager in?" Associate J said, "The Manager’s at a meeting."

A few minutes later the manager walked in and smiled at this customer. The manager of the store was from Generation X, around 42 years old. She spoke to Mr. Mature in a pleasant friendly manner and convinced him to purchase four new tires.

The other associate was from Generation Y/ Millennial, was in his early 20’s. He was speaking to a customer in Generation X around 44 years old.

Each associate treated their customers politely with respect and with a strong desire to help their customers. Each generation was connecting to the other generation without any problems.


When it was my turn, the Generation Y associate T, asked for my name, year of my car and my phone number and zip code. His fingers flew across the key board and he found my information within seconds. T was very computer savvy. He smiled and said, "Your tires were purchased here in 2009 and you bought a policy on them. Let’s go look at your tire and see if we can’t double patch it. AAA of Tidewater does not have this ability and neither does your car dealer."

We went outside to look at my front right tire and he said, "We can double patch it and rotate your tires." I asked, If he thought I needed to replace it as some of the tires had a very small amount of rot on them."

T said, "When tires are out in the elements it cannot be helped. This happens and your tires are still in good shape. We will patch the tire and rotate your tires. It will not cost you anything as you already purchased the warranty.”

I should add that I am a Baby Boomer, born between 1946 and 1965. I sure was glad I bought my warranty. I waited in the store lounge and read several magazines on how to manage your multi-generational work force. After reading two articles, T came in smiling and said, “Your car is ready. Take a look at the patch we removed. We double patched it and rotated your tires.”

After signing that the work was completed, T said, "If you go on line and fill out our customer satisfaction form, you will receive a reduced oil change coupon.”


I left the store and after work that night, filled out their Sears Tire customer survey form. I was really impressed how this store manager ran her store so successfully, with her multi-generational team members. Her employees were polite, respectful, friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable.

A few days after my visit to the Sears Tire Store I called and spoke to the store manager, Ms. L. I told her what a wonderful job her multi-generational team members did. "She was delighted to hear that!"


Write and share your experiences in the work place. What would you like to see happen at your company?


Madeline Frank, Ph.D. is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author, sought after speaker, business owner, teacher, researcher, and concert artist. She helps businesses and organizations "Tune Up their Businesses". Her innovative observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your businesses successful. She writes a monthly newsletter "Madeline's Monthly Article & Musical Tips" and a monthly radio show "Madeline's One Minute Musical Radio Show". She has just published her new book "Leadership On A Shoestring Budget".

If you need a speaker contact Madeline at: mfrankviola@gmail.com

Fourth Part of the Series: Dealing with Multi Generations in the Workplace by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.

The fourth generation of workers in the workplace are Generation Y/ Millennial. They were born between 1982 and 2000 and are ages 18-35. They grew up with technology and want work to be a fun place to be. They are goal oriented and want to do meaningful work that is important to the company they are working for. Some may think that Generation Y seems like the spoiled and entitled generation, but that’s not true. They need to be supervised and motivated in a structured and stable environment with immediate feedback and praise. They want to work in a fun environment.

Generation Y may have held as many as 10 jobs. Don’t let that disturb you. Many of these companies have gone under. Generation Y are looking to find a job that fits their talents and needs. They want to have meaningful work. This generation is good at multitasking.
If another company is offering them an extra 50 cents an hour they will want to change jobs for the extra money. Show them the benefits of staying with your company and how they can grow and learn new skills to advance in your company. Offer them educational opportunities to improve their skills.

Many businesses have hired Generation Y employees and have on their first day of work trained them on how they want them to dress, serve their customers, and taught them about the safety equipment at their businesses.


Feedback and Praise:

Generation Y needs supervision and immediate feedback and praise. It’s important to impose stability and structure to reassure and motivate this generation to work as a team. They are eager to be motivated and involved and make a difference in your company. Communicate with them by text, e-mail, or voice mail.


The Power of First Impressions on Generation Y’s First Day of Work:

A friend of mine’s son in Generation Y became an electrical apprentice when he was 19. On his first day of employment, the minute he arrived for work, his electrical employer handed him a company shirt, hard hat, safety glasses and other equipment. His employer immediately modeled for him how to wear his clothes and use his safety equipment to protect himself and the building he would be working in. Each of the new employees/team members were taught on their first day, the minute they arrived, what the rules were, how to dress , and how to use their safety equipment.

At a local Brazilian Steak House the management trains its Generation Y staff and servers for a month on how they are to dress, treat and serve their customers. Also each team member is taught how to safely use all the equipment in the restaurant to keep themselves and their customers safe. Once they begin working in the restaurant they are tested daily as each table of guests are handed a computer with a short survey on how well the servers and staff members handled their meal.



Remember Generation Y needs to be supervised and motivated in a structured and stable environment. They also need immediate feedback and praise. They want to do meaningful and important work to make a difference in your company. Send them to courses to help them work smarter, faster, and improve their knowledge. They want to work in a fun environment.

Don't we all wish to work in a fun and pleasant environment?


Tune in next Thursday for a true story on how these 4 generations work together as a team at a business with their four generations of customers.


Write and share your experiences in the work place. What would you like to see happen at your company?


Madeline Frank, Ph.D. is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author, sought after speaker, business owner, teacher, researcher, and concert artist. She helps businesses and organizations "Tune Up their Businesses". Her innovative observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your businesses successful. She writes a monthly newsletter "Madeline's Monthly Article & Musical Tips" and a monthly radio show "Madeline's One Minute Musical Radio Show". She has just published her new book "Leadership On A Shoestring Budget".

If you need a speaker contact Madeline at: mfrankviola@gmail.com

Generation X in the Workplace by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.

Generation X, the latch key kids are used to working independently. They are 36 to 47 years old and were born between 1965 and 1981.

Many of their parents were divorced with 2 family incomes as both parents worked. These kids were used to coming home and doing their homework on their own and doing their chores without being told to do them.

Generation X wants a work life balance. This generation is willing to work hard and wants to work for a successful marriage that eluded their parents. These are independent folks with families they want to spend time with and they appreciate money as they are buying homes. They also want to have fun at their work place. They are good with computers, cell phones and technology.

Feedback and Rewards:

They want immediate direct feedback so if something is wrong they can fix it immediately. They are hard workers who do not need to be supervised.


Generation X wants to continue learning and growing so remember to send them to courses to help them work smarter and improve their knowledge.

Tune in next Thursday for the fourth part of this four part series on how each generation is motivated, rewarded, and connects in your business.

Write and share your experiences in the work place. What would you like to see happen at your company?


Madeline Frank, Ph.D. is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author, sought after speaker, business owner, teacher, researcher, and concert artist. She helps businesses and organizations "Tune Up their Businesses". Her innovative observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your businesses successful. She writes a monthly newsletter "Madeline's Monthly Article & Musical Tips" and a monthly radio show "Madeline's One Minute Musical Radio Show". She has just published her new book "Leadership On A Shoestring Budget".



If you need a speaker contact Madeline at: mfrankviola@gmail.com

What about those Baby Boomers in the Workplace? by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.

Baby Boomers are the workaholic generation. They are used to spending long hours at work for their careers. They were born between 1946 and 1965 and are 47 to 66 years old. They were raised by their parents to work hard so they could earn the American Dream. Baby Boomers grew up during the Civil Rights movement, President Kennedy’s assassination, and the Vietnam War.

Rewards and Feed Back:

Baby Boomers want their feedback in person and like written performance documents to support their work. They want to be rated and have it in writing. Baby Boomers want to be rewarded with money. They have loans and credit cards to pay off. If your company does not have the money then give them a promotion with a title and recognize them in a ceremony in front of the other employees.

Baby Boomers want to continue learning and growing so remember to continue sending them to courses to help them work smarter and help them continue to work and grow. Because of the present economic times Baby Boomers are not retiring.

Tune in next Thursday for the third part of this four part series on how each generation is motivated, rewarded, and connects in your business.

Write and share your experiences in the work place. What would you like to see happen at your company?


Madeline Frank, Ph.D. is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author, sought after speaker, business owner, teacher, researcher, and concert artist. She helps businesses and organizations "Tune Up their Businesses". Her innovative observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your businesses successful. She writes a monthly newsletter "Madeline's Monthly Article & Musical Tips" and a monthly radio show "Madeline's One Minute Musical Radio Show". She has just published her new book "Leadership On A Shoestring Budget".

If you need a speaker contact Madeline at: mfrankviola@gmail.com