The 4 S’s
Following are four S’s of Generation X, the cornerstones of understanding the world Gen Xers grew up in and why they act the way they do.
Article originally published in WORK

Skeptical Gen Xers came of age as American institutions were crumbling. The Iran-Contra scandal, declining U.S. scores in math and science, the Challenger explosion, corporate downsizing and unemployment, high divorce rates, razorblades in Halloween candy and faces of missing children were headlines as Gen X children came of age in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. The result? A generation of young people who don’t talk to strangers and rely on themselves. Gen Xers are skeptical. You have to earn their trust and respect.

Savvy Gen Xers were raised on a steady diet of technology and information. Video games, computers and cable television exposed them to millions of megabytes of electronic stimuli, available 24 hours a day. Today’s young employees choose from hundreds of television channels, have access to millions of books and online resources beyond number. They have adapted to the information overload and learned to manage it. This is the bullet-point generation. They don’t read long memos; they prefer short, get-to-the-point emails. Gen Xers use technology and other resources to sift through gobs of information and make informed decisions. They’re info- and tech-savvy.

Self-reliant 40 percent of Gen Xers were raised in single parent households. This is America’s first generation of latchkey children. They learned how to set the VCR, set the table and set the agenda for what they wanted from dad on weekend visits. This generation is highly self-sufficient and can take care of themselves. Don’t micromanage them. They want responsibility and credit for doing a good job. Generation X is our first consumer group of multi-taskers. From early ages, they were watching TV, doing their homework, talking on the phone with friends and having a snack. They rely on themselves to build the skills and networks that will take them from the break room to the boardroom.

Swift Gen Xers like fast computers, quick turn-around time and instant access. Gen Xers don’t wait for organizations to open. They do research, apply for loans and comparison shop electronically, preferring to search online than wait inline. Gen Xers do face to face banking less than twice per year. Why? It’s not convenient. And convenience is the name of the game. Gen Xers want to streamline their lives, to make things simpler and swifter.