Lynne Lancaster
Generational Expert, Co-Founder and Partner, Bridgeworks, LLC
Baby Boomer Lynne Lancaster is one of today's foremost cultural translators. An expert on the generations, she is co-founder of BridgeWorks, a company that advises leaders, managers, and employees on how to conduct business more successfully by bridging generation gaps at work and in the marketplace. Her keynote speeches and workshops have enlightened and entertained high level audiences from many of America's best companies, including 3M, American Express, Best Buy, Citigroup, Coca-Cola, Lockheed Martin, and Wells Fargo, as well as from numerous public sector and nonprofit organizations.
Lynne is co-author of the best-selling business book When Generations Collide: Who They Are. Why They Clash. How to Solve the Generational Puzzle at Work. A consistent favorite among CEOs, the book spent time on several best-seller lists and is one of only two titles published by HarperCollins in 2003 that has sold more copies each year since publication. Her new book The M-Factor: How the Millennial Generation Is Rocking the Workplace, co-authored with business partner David Stillman, already garnered a gold medal from the Axiom business book awards.
An engaging and savvy speaker, Lynne is also a sought-after expert on workplace and social trends. She has been a guest commentator on CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio. Her by-line has appeared in numerous publications such as The Futurist, Nation's Business, and Public Management magazine. She has been interviewed for a wide range of national publications including The Wall Street Journal, TIME magazine, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.
Lynne recently created a highly successful trainer certification program, BridgeBuilder®, held in Sonoma, California, several times each year. The course has launched more than 120 trainers nationwide from such organizations as the Federal Aviation Administration, General Mills, KPMG, Lockheed, Michelin, VISA International, and Wells Fargo.
Lynne is a Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in English Literature. She earned her stripes as a management consultant, coaching managers and senior executives from major U.S. companies on decoding communication issues. Lynne's work with CEO author Harvey Mackay resulted in five best-selling business books, including Swim with the Sharks without Being Eaten Alive. Lynne has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, and recently shared the speaking platform with former president, George H.W. Bush.
Managing Four Generations in Turbulent Times
Four distinct generations are working shoulder to shoulder in today's business and nonprofit organizations”each with a unique set of attitudes, values, and work styles. It used to be that older workers were bosses and younger ones took orders. Now, roles are all over the map and rules are being re-written. Organizations are feeling the strain of generation gaps as they struggle to manage productivity and morale while maintaining high standards of quality and service in a challenging economy.
"Managing Four Generations in Turbulent Times" demonstrates not only why it's important to understand what shaped the generations and why they behave the way they do, but the challenges they face during an economic downturn. Learn about ClashPoints, areas at work where the generations are bumping up against each other and causing problems; find out how generation gaps hit the bottom line; learn what to do about the approaching talent gap; grasp the keys to retaining the generations you need the most; and discover how to convert this form of diversity from an obstacle into an opportunity.
Leadership: Bringing Out the Best in Every Generation
Leading today is more complicated than ever. Besides greater employee diversity, factors such as rapidly changing technology, an uncertain economy, mergers, closings, and layoffs have made today's workplace more challenging than in the past. Leadership is not necessarily determined by one's position on an organization chart or by what's on a resume. With roles constantly changing, being a leader can simply mean being reliable and responsible, regardless of age or rung on the corporate ladder.
From attitudes about loyalty to staying on the cutting edge, each generation brings unique leadership traits to work. While some try to figure out which generation's way of leading is best, the reality is that no generation is better or worse than another. "Leadership: Bringing Out the Best in Every Generation" will help you identify the obstacles and opportunities for leadership within each generation and understand the potential impact everyone can make as a leader.
Make Way for Millennials
American business is in the early stages of being rocked by the arrival of a new and powerful generation. Who are these kids? Millennials (born 1982 to 2000), the first generation to rival Baby Boomers in population size, are showing up at work with their own set of attitudes, expectations, and values. Techno savvy, demanding, and ambitious, they're bringing with them an entirely new way of doing business. How prepared will Gen X-ers, Baby Boomers, and Traditionalists be to manage them?
"Make Way for Millennials" offers strategies for recruiting, retaining, and motivating this influential new workforce. Companies that are forewarned and forearmed will reap the rewards of the millennial generation's talents and creative and pragmatic approach to the world of work.
Marketing &; Selling to Four Generations
The best marketing teams and salespeople need an arsenal of tools to help them reach potential buyers and finalize sales. Among these is a clear understanding of who the generations are in today's marketplace, how they differ, and how their unique needs and desires play out in the sales process. How do you find the "hot buttons?" What messages will appeal to each generation?
These questions and more are addressed in a highly entertaining program that helps energize marketing gurus and salespeople and teaches surefire strategies for sharpening your generational edge in the marketing and selling arenas. It shows audiences how generational insights can transform marketing caigns and sales efforts. Generation gaps are everywhere and businesses can gain a distinct competitive edge if they get to know who the generations are, what makes them tick, and how to make every generational connection count.
Getting to Give
Foundations and other nonprofit organizations suffer the same frustrations and face the same workplace problems as profit-making companies. To be effective, nonprofits need good leadership, strong management systems, marketing savvy, and an ongoing commitment to excellence. They also need to understand what motivates four generations of staff, volunteers, and donors to give their time and their money.
Awareness of generational differences is crucial to organizations that must compete for well-qualified and loyal workers when resources are limited. What messages will attract skilled workers to the nonprofit world? What does it take to make connections with Traditionalists, Boomers, Gen X-ers, and Millennials so that they not only donate but also keep giving? How does acknowledging donors of each generation differ? Board members, staff, and hands-on service providers will learn to reach across generation gaps and build lasting bridges.
Attracting &; Retaining Four Generations of Association Members
Associations exist primarily to serve their members. But serving is tougher today as key resources are shrinking and the government has taken a diminished role in funding programs. In addition to these challenges, today's associations are made up of four diverse and outspoken generations. While Traditionalists and Baby Boomers have been loyal attendees for a long time, Gen X-ers and now Millennials are proving tougher to attract and retain. Putting on a great conference or convention is no longer enough.
The key is figuring out the right scale and combination of services needed to satisfy each generation. How do the expectations of each generation differ on working relationships, time commitments, and returns they should expect from association membership? The ability to capitalize on each generation's energy, expertise, and leadership potential has never been more critical.
Customer Service &; the Generations
The best customer service providers understand what "service" means to each generation. Whether on the phone, online, or face to face, attitudes and biases can be reflected in what you say and how you say it, as common courtesies often are interpreted differently by different generations. An organization's strategies must reflect the changing face of a multigenerational customer base.
Gain a distinct competitive edge by teaching your customer service reps who the four generations of customers are and how to communicate more effectively with each one. Learn through humorous sketches and real-life exles how to avoid patronizing behaviors and capitalize on emotional connections to make every customer's experience a positive one.