What Does Being A Team Player Have to Do With My Job?

I find it interesting that a family-focused business scoffs when you want to take a day off to spend time with your family.

 Jennifer Hunt, Graduate Student

Quote from book titled Beyond Generation X 

A few years ago, I attended a meeting with a group of human resource managers, when one of the managers shared the story of a Generation X job applicant that was interviewing for a critical position in her company.  While she was in the stages of making an offer to this talented candidate, he asked her for the hours he would be expected to work in any given week.  She was surprised by the question and proceeded to tell him that everyone in the company works Monday through Friday from 8 - 5 PM.  When he asked her if this included Thursdays as well she said yes and he proceeded to turn down the job offer.  He went on to explain that he is part of a bowling team that has been playing together for years and they meet every Thursday at 3 PM at the local alley.  He was not willing to give up this meaningful activity with his buddies and so he turned the job offer down. 

Now, I know what you are thinking....that this is ridiculous decision in an economy with 8% unemployment but you have to remember this story happened a few years ago when jobs were more plentiful.  Let's take a look at what may have lead to this young man's decision. 

Generation X grew up in a time when women were entering the workplace in record numbers and the introduction of the birth control pill allowed women to postpone rearing children until later in their careers.  Boomer moms and dads were working full time to guarantee income for their families and to help them get ahead in their careers.  This left many Generation X children at home between the hours of 4-6:30 PM.  While home, they learned to make their own meals and gain a great deal of independence which gave them the label of "latch-key" kids. 

Now fast forward to the workplace today and you will find a generation that will often give up jobs or take pay cuts to have the work-life balance that their parents never had.   They are unwilling to work 80 hours for 40 hours of pay like their parents did just to get ahead.  They also do not understand the need to work in teams to get the work done as they learned to survive and thrive on their own.

If you live or work with a Generation X member, try these tips to improve your relationship with them:

• While they are willing to work in teams if it makes sense, reward them for their individual accomplishments on the team.  An ideal acknowledgment is sending an email to the team highlighting the Gen X's accomplishments towards the goal.
• Honor their desire to work independently by training them, giving them the right tools & getting out of their way.
• Because they value time with friends and family, allow them to work from home when possible and resist social gatherings  outside of work hours for the sake of employee bonding. 

Next week I will share three more critical tips to work more effectively with Generation X.