Working with Gen X

Gen X are the generation on the cusp. Some were at the tail end of (small) university grants, others paid fees. Some got into final-salary pension plans, others are resigned to money-purchase. Gen Xers were shouted down by boomers in childhood and for the first part of their careers, and learned to hide plans and emotions, especially in a professional context. That means they might not have shared their thoughts with you.

We’re used to the idea of boomers starting to slow down in their early 50s and retiring a few years later - although some US politicians didn’t get the memo. But in corporate life, there’s often “past it” ageism around 50ish.

But here’s the thing. Gen X aren’t retiring. Those with money-purchase pensions are looking at retirement nearer 70 than 50. And even those with the gold-plated pensions feel too healthy to stop work, unless caring duties take over.?

And here’s the other thing: Gen X are not happy. They have reached the stage where it feels like they should have achieved something, but are not sure what. Forgotten between autocratic Boomers and ambitious Millennials, they are rarely celebrated. At the same time, they know the financial struggles of younger generations are tougher, so they don’t want to complain.

You might not realise this, but they are not enjoying corporate life. And they aren’t sure what else to do. If you manage Gen X, invite them to share their wisdom: they will have a lot of quiet observations that will surprise you. If you don’t, you risk losing quiet, productive team members, who bring more value than you realise. Gen X might not be planning to retire, but they may have other ideas.

To my Gen X friends, here are a few highlights from the list of those who started something new in middle age.

• Raymond Chandler
• Ray Kroc (McDonalds)
• Anna Sewell (Black Beauty)
• Arianna Huffington (Huffington Post)
• Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Harland Sanders (KFC)
• Richard Adams (Watership Down)
• Bob Parsons (Go Daddy)
• Karen Blixen (Out of Africa)
• David Duffield (Workday, with Aneel Bhusri)

Tolkien had written other novels earlier, but the Lord of the Rings series waited until he was 45

Gen X retire? We’re barely getting started!!

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