Insight Blog

Simply understanding how Baby Boomers think and feel about work and their careers, and implementing ways to motivate these employees, can have a tremendous impact upon their performance and the value they can offer organizations. By taking the time to leverage Baby Boomers' experience and skill sets, a company can benefit from their strengths long after they retire.

So what can organizations do to motivate this generation?

• First and foremost, give them attention and recognition as they are motivated by being valued and needed.

• Give them titles and authority that are commensurate with their responsibilities and experience.

• Because they also seek meaning in their jobs, provide them opportunities to mentor other generations. By doing so, a company is utilizing the most powerful on-the-job training for its other, younger employees. Mentoring is a way Baby Boomers can share their experiences and transfer their knowledge, thus building the skills sets of other employees.

• Give them challenging assignments as they enjoy working on projects that can garner recognition and that make a difference to an organization.

• Provide transparency and democracy in decision making. Baby Boomers appreciate being involved in decisions at all stages.

• Show your respect by having established policies and by "playing fair". Baby Boomers' parents were from a generation that had a strong employer / employee commitment. This upbringing has made it desirable for Baby Boomers to work for companies that are loyal to their employees and that value hard work and years of dedication.

• Offer them post-retirement opportunities. A new phenomenon is occurring in which Baby Boomers coming upon traditional retirement age either cannot afford to stop working or feel that their lives may be less fulfilling without work. Therefore, they are interested in active retirement or flexible, part-time arrangements. Employers should take advantage of this mindset and tap into their experience and skills sets, even if it is on a flexible basis.