The Top 10 The Top Ten Ways to Coach Generation Xers

Originally Submitted on 6/29/97.

Generation Xers will dominate the workplace of the future. They will be the managers, CEOs, and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. As coaches, it's crucial for us to better understand this generation so that we can make a positive impact not only with them, but on our future overall.

1. TEACH them something. The ability to cope with massive quantities of information quickly is one of the key survival skills of the 21st century workplace. Gen Xers can't afford to stop learning. They were born into the information revolution, and it has since shaped the way they think. By mentoring, guiding, and teaching them, you will feed this need they have to continuously learn and develop. Make sure you don't patronize them, though.

Coaching Style--Provide information and new pieces of knowledge without telling them what they should do. Share your expertise and invest in them be actively improving their knowledge and skill bases. Make sure they leave each call or situation knowing something new about themselves and/or the world.

2. UNDERSTAND their history and stereotypes. The stereotypical Gen Xer is a cynical, disillusioned, disrespectful "slacker". These stereotypes are society's way of categorizing people, and are, in fact, characteristic of the minority of Gen Xers--not the majority. You need to shift your stereotypes and understanding of Gen Xers in order to work with them more effectively.

Coaching Style--Promote and support the majority profile of Gen X. Honor their independence and entrepreneurial freedom by letting them tell you what they need.

3. CULTIVATE their individuality. Individuality is a key theme of Gen Xers. They are born entrepreneurs who have learned at a young age to do things on their own. They have a strong desire to define problems, set priorities, make decisions, and develop solutions on their own initiative.

Coaching Style--Grant them autonomy by letting them talk openly about their problems and mistakes they've made, or are afraid to make. Instead of fighting their independence, use it to help them coach themselves.

4. APPRECIATE their unique style. One of Gen Xer's worst fears is that their style will somehow be cramped. Their style needs to be ongoingly invested in and acknowledged by themselves and people working with them. They like to feel that they are accomplishing goals and want to be appreciated for the mark they're making in the world.

Coaching Style--Develop field work together each week--actions to take. Give them enough time to put their own creativity and style into it. Let them tell you when they will get it done, and ask them the status on each call. Shifting the responsibility to them will encourage them to express their own style, and it will be easier for both of you overall.

5. SUPPORT/CONFIRM their quest for security. Xers have not had the advantage that the generation before them had in the workplace. The traditional rites of job security are no longer available, and therefor no job is safe anymore. With no job security, Xers can't afford to make too many personal sacrifices for other people. They need to invest in themselves and find people who are also willing to invest in them and their careers.

Coaching Style--Regularly confirm to the Gen Xers that they're "making it" (if that's the truth for you). Provide "coaching extras" every now and then (like spending more time with them, or sending them articles pertaining to their personal and professional growth). This will confirm your genuine interest in them. Make sure this need for confirmation is also being met by other people in their life, and most importantly, that they work in an environment that supports it.

6. VALUE-BASED RESULTS--In place of job security, Xers need to know that their efforts are, at the very least, providing value for not only themselves, but for the company and people for which they work. Many Gen Xers are really running their own business whether or not they are working for a company. Therefore, they interact with every project like it's their own. This is why it's so important for the Xer to know and understand what value-based result the project will provide. Work is part of their self expression, compared to earlier generations where working mostly was something that provided security and a weekly paycheck.

Coaching Style--Have them fill out the Tru Values form as soon as possible. Make sure that each personal and professional project they take on is based on one of their values. Another great exercise to work with them on is creating a vision and mission statement. Again, make sure that everything they're working on forwards their vision.

7. OPEN COMMUNICATION--Xers not only like, but need open channels of communication and authenticity from people in their lives. Open communication allows them to trust you and themselves easier. Xers want to help change things in the world, but need to talk openly about their feelings and how they are going to achieve these very big goals.

Coaching Style--Give them opportunities to trust you and be open with you by sharing more about yourself. Be a model for them by being vulnerable. Share about your mistakes, and more importantly, how you've learned from them.

8. FEEDBACK-- Gen Xers need consistent, specific and timely feedback. They thrive on this kind of feedback because it monitors the value of their work. Feedback, good or bad, facilitates learning and performance. Without feedback, Xers can't improve because they have no assurance that they're doing the "right thing". They need to be confirmed that their investment of time, energy and themselves is paying off.

Coaching Style--Provide feedback on every call or in every meeting--even if it's negative. Ask for their feedback on coaching them. For example, "What is the biggest request I can make of you this week?" or "How would you like me to support you in this?"

9. STRUCTURE/GOALS--Set weekly, monthly, yearly goals, and regularly check in with them on how they're doing. Refine goals when necessary so that problems can be easily resolved, and they feel like they're on the right track.

Coaching Style--Have them be specific about the goals, but flexible on how to get there. Xers need to set their own schedule and manage their own time. They have realistic goals and usually know how long it will take them to accomplish something.

10. CREATIVITY--Creative ability is the most important trait to Xers--even more so than individuality. They don't have job security, so they think of themselves as the sole proprietors of their creative abilities. It's very important to be creative because it helps them build within themselves portable assets for the future.

Coaching Style--Create a coaching relationship that feeds the Gen Xers' creativity. Their creativity is closely linked to their self expression. Realize that their work is really an extension of themselves. Give them room to learn, grow and develop this creative side.

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