Many of Market Viewpoint’s clients ask me how to keep their staff, especially their superstars, engaged and excited about their work. Most managers, if they truly see themselves as coaches, will take responsibility for motivating their staff. But this can be a difficult task. What works for one individual doesn’t seem to work for another. When I am asked why this happens, my question back to the manager is, “Have you ever really considered who you are trying to motivate?” Employees come from different generational groups – all inspired to achieve by different things. Is it possible that you are taking a “one size fits all” approach to motivation?

Consider these steps. Segment your staff into generational groups (Traditionalists, Baby Boomer, Generation X, or Millennial). Know that the motivational hot buttons are different for each group, so be prepared to be flexible with your approach.

The Millennials on your staff are motivated by tangible and intangible rewards that represent immediate satisfaction. Think gift cards and free meals.

Generation X values rewards that give them freedom. Think relaxed dress codes and flexible leave policies.

Baby Boomers, on the other hand, are motivated by financial rewards and job recognition. Think bonuses and corner office space for this group. While the Traditionalists, or World War II generation are motivated by things such as abbreviated work weeks and alternative work schedules.

All of the generations are motivated by recognition. That pat on the back that lets someone know they are doing a good job is important for all.

Meet with your employees on an individual basis to understand what they value and where they are at this phase of their lives. Use your mystery shops to determine the things people are really good at and explore these areas in depth.

To find out more about how Market Viewpoint can help you motivate your employees, contact us today. A motivated staff is just a phone call away!

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To help our readers fine tune their customer retention strategies, we are dedicating this month’s posts to gaining a better understanding of the four generations that make up today’s marketplace. This week, we take a look at the Baby Boom generation, also known as the “Me Generation”. This is a consumer group born between 1946 and 1964. They are anywhere from 45 to 63 years of age and are a generation that is all about “rights” – mine, yours, women’s rights, civil rights, reproductive rights, and the rights of Mother Earth. It’s no wonder that Baby Boomer Al Gore is as concerned about our planet as he is. The single biggest influence on this group was the television, but bell bottoms, mood rings, Apollo rockets, and the peace sign also rocked this generation.

Key words used to describe this generation are competitive and optimistic. They are an optimistic generation because they know that achieving the seemingly impossible can happen. This generation accepted and achieved the challenge to put a man on the moon. They are a competitive generation because there are so darn many of them – 80 million who wield $1.6 trillion dollars of buying power.

Knowing what excites your customers and motivates them to buy should be an important factor in your marketing plan and customer retention strategy. Analyze your customer base and be clear with your marketing messages. The implications are far-reaching and could result in better customer retention rates for your organization.

To schedule a “Generations In the Workplace” seminar contact us at angela@marketviewpoint.com.

• Like what you read? Digg, Stumble or Tweet this post!
• Market Viewpoint …helping you see your business through your customers’ eyes.
• Follow Angela Megasko, president of Market Viewpoint on Twitter today! www.twitter.com/AngelaMegasko

Generational marketing is huge right now. Many companies are tapping into understanding the various generations in an effort to make more of an impact on the marketplace and capture more  market share. But so what if there are four unique generations working and making purchases in today’s companies and marketplace?

Who cares?

You should. That’s who!

For the first time in history we are dealing with four generations that have very particular needs and patterns of behavior when it comes to making purchases, being managed, being motivated, and being hired. Successful companies know that forging strong relationships with our customers is the key to profitable business because long-term customer loyalty pays off in the form of repeat sales, referrals, and positive word- of-mouth advertising. We create strong relationships with our clients when we truly understand their needs and wants. We all like dealing with people and companies that “get it” when it comes to understanding who we are.

Let me give you an example. I can not begin to tell you how frustrating it is for me, as a Baby Boomer,  every time I am in line at the checkout at the grocery store. I always make an attempt to engage the cashier in conversation. It’s usually about little things like the weather or the price of eggs. I find it frustrating when the Millennial (a person born between 1981 – 1999) at the register fails to make eye contact or laugh at my silly jokes. I feel left out of the transaction somehow. I sometimes even go so far as to look for a cashier who is about my age before I pull into a register station so that I might make a connection. You see, as a Baby Boomer, it’s all about connecting and I will go to great lengths to patronize businesses who understand that part of who I am.

Making your staff aware of the things that are unique to each of the generations can go a long way to creating customer experiences that are positive and enduring. Isn’t that what we’re all after? If you haven’t checked out Market Viewpoint’s Generations in the Workplace Seminar series, it’s not too late. Contact us to get the latest on this popular series and how it has helped other businesses.

Market Viewpoint wants to hear from you! What are some of your most frustrating encounters with people from other generations?

I bet we have a lot of talk about!