The Millennials are Here. Now What?

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The Millennials are Here. Now What?

• Nicole K. Roberts, PhD
• Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
• The Academy for Scholarship in Education

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Whos involved in medical education?
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Generations, Defined Strauss and Howe

• Cohort generation
• Born within same general time period,
  approximately 20-22 yrs
• Experience similar society
• Have similarities in personality (cohort wide,
  not necessarily down to the individual)

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Generations, Defined Strauss and Howe

• Based on observations of American culture since
  1600s
• Some evidence of cross-cultural similarities,
  though somewhat later than in USA
• Observations were predictive of characteristics
  of Millennials
• Decline in youth problems
• Increase in positive behaviors

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Generation Types

• Adaptive/Artistic
• Idealistic/Prophetic
• Reactive/Nomad
• Civic/Hero

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Adaptive/Artistic (Silent)
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Idealistic/Prophetic (Boomers)
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Reactive/Nomadic (X)
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Civic/Hero (Millennials)
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Characteristics of the Millennials

• Special
• Sheltered
• Confident
• Team-Oriented
• Conventional
• Pressured
• Achieving

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Special

• Included
• Consulted
• Raised by GenX

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Sheltered
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Confident

• Opinions have always counted
• Obstacles removed
• Actions rewarded

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Team Oriented

• Work well together
• Consult with one another

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Conventional

• Consensus sought
• Return to manners of the past
• Return to rituals of the past
• May be cliquish

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Pressured

• School standards
• College not optional for many
• Structured time

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Achieving

• Higher grades
• Higher expectations (?)

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What Does this Mean for Us

• Prematurely Gray Hair

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The Clash of the Generations?
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What Does this Mean for Us?

• Our job?
• Transmit values
• Their job?
• Question those values

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The Good News

• Millennials tend to like their parents
• Milennials tend to respect authority
• So even as they are questioning, they are rational

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What Else Does this Mean for Us?

• Dont expect Millennials to behave the same as
  Gen-X
• Dont treat them the same as Gen-X

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What Else Does this Mean for Us?

• Be authoritative
• Be in charge
• Be flexible
• Be friendly
• Be willing to changewith extensive rational
  persuasion

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Questions?

• nroberts_at_siumed.edu