Present to a multi-generational audience

These can be tough times for corporate speakers and trainers. Children of Baby Boomers are starting to flood into the workforce, and for the first time, organizations are faced with the need to manage four different generations in the office. Those generations—Matures, Boomers, Generation Xers, and Millennials (also called Generation Y)—each pose a different challenge to those tasked with informing and educating them. They are an extremely diverse audience that can frustrate even the most experienced and dynamic speaker.

The Mature or Silent generation, born before 1945, shows a loyalty to the company that puts duty before pleasure. These are the people who survived the great depression and fought in World War II. Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, are known as workaholics with a love-hate relationship with authority. They have been known to be both idealistic and optimistic, but somewhat impatient at times.

Members of Generation X, the MTV generation, came into the world between 1965 and 1979. They often display independence and results orientation, but are also known for their skepticism. Generation Y, the Millennials, were born between 1980 and 1999. They grew up in a time of unprecedented economic expansion and prosperity; until recently they have never experienced a recession. This generation has seen more at a younger age than most members of previous generations, such as the Oklahoma City bombing, the Columbine shootings, and the 9/11 tragedy. Exposure to these events through the 24-hour media has brought the world to them instantly. This is a tech-savvy generation for whom multitasking is second nature.

Obviously, speaking to a multi-generational audience can be challenging. How can you meet the unique needs of each audience member while keeping everyone “on the same page”? Many speakers turn to visuals (handouts, videos, and PowerPoint slides) to make their presentations more lively and keep their audience engaged. That seems logical, given that each generation has experienced an explosion of newer and more sophisticated media than the previous generation. However, the fatal flaw with this approach is that adding traditional imagery to your presentation can turn off, rather than inspire, your audience.

A more effective approach would be to follow the Five Rules of Engagement… The Multi-Generational type.

1. Get over yourself. Check your ego at the door and remember that it is a privilege to speak up.

2. Keep it short: present the content concisely. Your audience members are used to receiving information in sound bites and capsule summaries.

3. Create an “experience.” Touch as many senses as you can, never forgetting the power of music and images.

4. Tell stories. Remember that you are not always the main character and that no age group should be stereotyped in your presentation.

5. Change it. Try new things and novel approaches. Same old, same old becomes staged and insincere.

These rules speak to the presenter’s need to go beyond bullet points and avoid information overload. They encourage speakers to win the ‘hearts’ as well as the ‘minds’ of their audiences. These tips are less about style than content… more about capturing the audience’s imagination than simply filling their ears.

In addition to the Rules of Engagement, you may also want to consider these strategies to keep all audience members engaged, no matter what generation they are:

o Focus on “take home” value: This is more a function of these demanding times than generational differences, but members of all four generations appreciate when you get to the point and make it practical.

o Employ multiple technologies – Long PowerPoint presentations are so “old”. Today’s audience (especially Gen X and Y) will expect you to refer them to websites for more information and practical tools they can use. This will not only attract your attention… it will also deserve your enthusiasm.

o Solicit feedback via technology – Post-submission feedback forms may be enough for adults and boomers, but Gen Xers and millennials will prefer to blog, chat, text, and tweet in response to your presentation. Set up the technology as needed and encourage them to give you feedback whenever they want. It will keep them engaged and can lead to more valuable feedback for you.

One thing is clear…speakers today face multi-generational audiences that challenge their skills and effectiveness. However, by offering a new topic with passion and incorporating some multigenerational strategies into your presentation, you can ensure that your audience is completely “tuned in” and that you are achieving your goals.