LPS Learning Lunch: Beatles, Bee Gees and Beyoncé

What do the Baby Boomer, Generation X and Millennial generations have in common?

Not much, it turns out.

That was the overriding theme of the first LPS Learning Lunch of the 2018-19 season, held Aug. 21 in the boardroom at LPS District Office. The light-hearted but informative presentation, “Beatles, Bee Gees and Beyoncé: Communicating and Managing Generational Differences,” delved into the many differences among the Millennial, Generation X and Baby Boomer generations.

Those born between 1946 and 1964 are typically considered Baby Boomers; for Gen X, 1965 to 1980; and for Millennials, 1981 to 2000.

Representing their generations at the Learning Lunch were Baby Boomer Kay Byers, retired LPS supervisor of elementary personnel services; Gen-Xer Nicole Regan, LPS supervisor of secondary personnel services; and Minnellial Robbie Seybert, LPS director of employee relations and personnel.

Of course there are always exceptions when you’re talking about such large segments of the population, but here’s what they had to say about their generations on a variety of topics:

Career goals

Baby Boomers - “You build a stellar career - that was your identity as a Boomer.”

Gen X - “Work hard so you can enjoy your life and have that work-life balance.”

Millenials - “We don’t like to be boxed in. We don’t like to be told, ‘You can only do this.’”

Work style

Baby Boomers - “Work very hard at one job. Often times we were the ones who arrived early and stayed later.”

Gen X - “Give us a project and we’ll do it, just don’t give us too many parameters about how to do it. We’re committed to work but not necessarily the company.”

Millenials - “We like to multitask. We’ve been doing that since we were young.”

Communication preferences

Baby Boomers - “We prefer to face. I would much rather get up and out of my office and go to someone else’s office or meet with them personally.”

Gen X - “We like email, voicemail, texting. Be direct, just tell us what we need to know. Quick and to the point.”

Millennials - “We prefer messaging, texting. And be positive. Condescension and sarcasm sometime don’t go over well and can be seen as criticism for Millenials.”

Workplace strengths

Baby Boomers - “Experience and knowledge are very important to Boomers.”

Gen X - “We’re independent, adaptable. We’re willing to challenge the status quo - do what you do and ask for forgiveness later.”

Millenials - “We’re risk-takers - we don’t have much to lose yet.”

LPS Learning Lunches are open to LPS staff and the Lincoln community. Learning Lunches are held in the boardroom at LPS District Office, 5905 O St. Doors open at 11:45 a.m., the program begins at noon, followed by questions-and-answers at 12:30 p.m. Please bring your own lunch – we’ll provide dessert.

The rest of the 2018-19 season:

• Tuesday, Sept. 18: “What’s in a Name? (Stories behind our school names),” Ed Zimmer, Historic Preservation Planner, Lincoln Planning Department.
• Tuesday, Oct. 9: “Informed Citizenship in Action: Student Vote,” Jaci Kellison, LPS curriculum specialist for social studies, along with students with a passion for Student Vote.
• Tuesday, Nov. 20: “Welcome Center: Opening doors into our community for families from around the world,” Laura Salem, supervisor, LPS English Language Learner program.
• Tuesday, Dec. 11: “Recruitment and Retention of Talent in LPS,” Eric Weber, associate superintendent for human resources at LPS.
• Tuesday, Jan. 15: “VOICE at LPS: Readiness for Resumes, Rent and Recreation,” Tonya Jolley, coordinator of VOICE (Vocational Opportunity in Community Experience).
• Tuesday, Feb. 26: “Budget Development in LPS,” Liz Standish, associate superintendent for business affairs at LPS.
• Tuesday, March 19: “Twenty-five years of student-built houses,” Bob Freese, Lincoln Northeast High School teacher.
• Tuesday, April 16: “LPS Student Debate,” Mindy Murphy, LPS curriculum specialist for English language arts for secondary education.
• Tuesday, May 14: “Aprenda mientras toma su almuerzo con los Mariachis de las Ciudad Estrella!” (Learn while you have your lunch with The Star City Mariachi Ensemble), Lance Nielsen, curriculum specialist for music at LPS.

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