In This Article
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Understanding the Baby Boomer Personality and their Core Values
What Events Shaped the Baby Boomer Personality
Video: Understanding and Managing Baby Boomers
Quiz: Understanding Baby Boomers
Scholarly Citation for this Article
Generations in the Workplace Article Series
Member Content
- Special Report: Managing Generation X
- Special Report: Managing Generation Y (Millennials)
- Special Report: Managing Generation Z
- Special Report: Managing Baby Boomers
- Leadership Infographic: 5 Ways Insightful Leaders Engage Generation X
- Leadership Infographic: 5 Ways Insightful Leaders Engage Generation Y (Millennials)
- Leadership Infographic: 5 Ways Insightful Leaders Engage Generation Z
- Leadership Infographic: 5 Ways Insightful Leaders Engage Baby Boomers
Understanding the Baby Boomer Personality and their Core Values
Generational personality comes from events that a generation of people experience as they are growing upin a certain point in time in American history. These events shape the values of that generation which they later bring to the workplace.
Baby Boomers (also known as Boomers) were born around 1943 through 1960. They are a post-war generation who came into being during a period of economic and population growth, advances in medicine, and industrial expansion beyond agriculture.
Those parents who could often indulged and protected their Baby Boomer children. This attention has given Boomers an optimistic and self-focused attitude.
The core values of Baby Boomers include optimism, team orientation, personal gratification, health and wellness, personal growth, youthfulness, work, and involvement. When a workplace environment supports their values Baby Boomers are more satisfied with their jobs. When these and other values important to them are missing, Baby Boomers are less engaged.
Baby Boomers are restless souls who see themselves as the Stars of the Show. Click To Tweet
What Events Shaped the Baby Boomer Personality
One can understand the restless nature of Baby Boomers when we look back at some of the influential events that shaped them as they were growing up. Here’s a list of 15 of those events:
- 1954 – Army-McCarthy hearings begin
- 1955 – Rosa Parks refuses to move to the back of the bus
- 1957 – First nuclear power plant
- 1960 – Kennedy elected President
- 1962 – Cuban Missile Crisis
- 1963 – Martin Luther King leads march on Washington DC
- 1963 – President John Kennedy assassinated
- 1964 – Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed
- 1965 – United States sends ground troops to Vietnam
- 1966 – National Organization for Women founded
- 1967 – American Indian Movement Founded
- 1968 – Martin Luther King assassinated
- 1968 – Robert Kennedy assassinated
- 1969 – First moon landing
- 1970 – Kent State University Shootings
Baby Boomers value personal growth, team involvement, and personal gratification. They are loyal to their careers first and to their employers second! Click To Tweet
Video: Understanding and Managing the Baby Boomer Generation
Quiz: Understanding Baby Boomers
Scholarly Citation for this Article
This article has been cited in the following scholarly research article:
- Journal of Organizational Psychology: Employee Engagement: Generational Differences in the Workforce | McMurry University (Patricia A. Lapoint and Ann Liprie-Spence)
Generations in the Workplace Article Series
Reference: Generations at Work. AMACOM
Written by Robert Tanner | Copyrighted Material | All Rights Reserved Worldwide
This article is accurate to the best of the author’s knowledge.
Content is for informational or educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional advice in business, management, legal, or human resource matters.
Certainly! The Baby Boomer generation, born between 1943 and 1960, experienced a unique cultural landscape that significantly influenced their core values and outlook on life. This generation emerged post-World War II, amidst a time of economic prosperity, medical advancements, and rapid industrialization in America. Their upbringing was characterized by indulgence and protection from their parents, fostering an optimistic and self-focused attitude among Baby Boomers.
Key events during their formative years played a pivotal role in shaping their personalities. For instance, events like the Civil Rights Movement, the assassinations of prominent figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy, the Vietnam War, and the moon landing all left indelible imprints on the Baby Boomer psyche. These events contributed to their values of optimism, personal gratification, team orientation, and a commitment to personal growth.
In the workplace, Baby Boomers prioritize loyalty to their careers over loyalty to their employers. They thrive in environments that align with their values, feeling more engaged when their beliefs in personal growth, teamwork, and gratification are supported. Conversely, when these values are overlooked, their engagement tends to decrease.
The article references the scholarly work by Patricia A. Lapoint and Ann Liprie-Spence in the Journal of Organizational Psychology, highlighting the generational differences in workforce engagement, a testament to the academic recognition of the impact of generational values in professional settings.
Furthermore, the article touches upon managing multiple generations in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of understanding each generation's distinct traits and values, including Generation X, Millennials (Generation Y), Generation Z, and Baby Boomers. This comprehensive approach is crucial for effective leadership and organizational management, acknowledging the diverse perspectives and priorities of each cohort.
The provided content serves as a valuable resource, shedding light on the nuances of generational personalities, particularly emphasizing the unique characteristics and values that define the Baby Boomer generation.
