Return to Article: Gen X Execs
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41373
Gen X Execs? Lord help us all! (I hope that Lord part isn't too politically incorrect)
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36914
I believe that in most part, the government has lost out on generation X. The hiring freeze that began about ten years ago that coincided with recession that plagued the US on and off over the past 10+ years, pushed gen x'ers into the private sector or kept them in school. The government did not capture the x'ers out of the gate, and now, the government does not want to pay for the experience/education that the X'ers have obtained. Quite a conundrum for the US government whose workforce will see 70+ percent eligibility for retirement in the next 5-10 years. NSPS does not address the issues for X'ers nor does the current retirement plan. Private enterprise is offering more, so why except less if we do not have to? Patriotism is one thing, but paying the bills and retiring at a reasonable age is another.
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36672
I agree with Mike. This isn't the first time I've heard all this.
Any distinguishing amongst the generations must include the differences in age. Obviously different generations will have different ages; but they are also at different mental states, and energy levels. In looking back on ourselves, representatives from my generation may remember the movies "Wild in the Streets" and "Logan's Run". Yes, it was our generation that first put on film the systematic ... elimination of the older set.
Thinking back on the generations that came before my own, I find similarities and wisdom in their thoughts. I remembered "The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers." (paraphrased from and misattributed to "The Republic" by Plato.)
All this is because as Mike and the Mechanics said "Every generation blames the one before, when all of their frustrations come beating on your door." Personally I feel, "Today's younger generation is no worse than my own. We were just as ignorant and repulsive as they are, but nobody listened to us." (said Al Capp.)
And my favorite, and probably the most descriptive of Generation X's acceptance of NSPS is, "The arrogance of the young is a direct result of not having known enough consequences. The turkey that every day greedily approaches the farmer who tosses him grain is not wrong. It is just that no one ever told him about Thanksgiving." -Harry Golden
This will probably be the FIRST and LAST time NSPS is equated to Thanksgiving!
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36597
It's generational and cultural folks. The same things were being said about babyboomers when they entered the work force. It's just that now we have these messages boards to blather about it. The U.S. is always looking for the next new fad; the next best mouse trap blah blah blah. And everyone knows that no one over the age of thirty is capable of a creative thought let alone be trusted.
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36494
Most Gen X,Y, etc I work with think they are the bees knees, that's for sure - many treat each other and everyone else very poorly in any position of authority and influence. That is the flip side of "results oriented" - younger ones are more apt to walk on top of each other and be touchy about things the old sweats don't worry about. The can also be mouthy and disrespectful. I have seen some good things written about intergenerational management - maybe they need to be incorporated in training and formation.
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36458
As someone getting an MPA who has worked in the government and non-profit sectors I can tell you that the government sector doesn't appeal to me. The public/government sector, moves so slow, is so big, is governed by the idea of "tenure" that it is ridiculous. Gen'Xers were brought up in a culture that is results oriented and values pay for merit. We don't beleive in hierarchy so much, but we do beleive in collaboration. We don't like the idea of saying "its not my job" when asked to do something. We have passion and those coming after us the Millennials have even more. So gives us a chance, just because we may be younger, doens't mean we can't do a phenominal job.
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36432
Yes Kevin, not a bad idea.
There is a strong bias from within the government that if you have spent years in government service there must be something wrong with you and you can't possible be creative and innovative. And if you get too creative and innovative watch out because there is a beating that is coming your way.
I hear it time and time again that we need private sector creativity and must do things the private sector way. Or lets bring in more contractors because our staff can't possible do the project. I cannot fathom this love of the private sector way--to me it is just scary watching these companies fire and rehire new employees at lower and lower salaries.
The bias runs very deep in the culture-- Baby Boomers are frustrated because they can't get ahead in this environment and Gen Xers get frustrated when they can't move the mountain yesterday. I see it every day.
You are absolutely right-- there are plenty of creative and innovative federal employees- however, many of these employees leave their creativity at the door of their agency because most don't want to be beat up by the culture police protecting the status quo.
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36415
I guess you could say I'm a Gen-X employee. I am also turned off by the mammoth bureaucracy, lack of transparency, and lack of results in my organization. Many employees who have been with the Government for decades don't realize how inefficient, wasteful, and unproductive we truly are. The results are not so important as the process. I hope this will change, but I can only assume that I and other Gen-Xers will get consumed by the system as well, and will lose our "cuting edge" drive.
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36381
You know, believe it or not there are plenty of federal government employees WHO ARE NOT GEN X'ers that are results-oriented. I get quite insulted when articles magnify the new recruits as the "best and brightest." Is that to imply that current government employees are not the best nor bright? Furthermore, it is rather upsetting that GEN X'ers are able to penetrate the SES ranks, when those seasoned employees who are cutting edge, creative, and results-oriented do not get a second look. Maybe I should leave the government in order to be considered for these Senior Executive opportunities...
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36378
It is absolutely outrageous that DC Government would agree to this pay scale for the new chancellor and her new hires-- who I might add are not merit based hires but come from her company.
Most County and State employees are locked into a certain grade. Senior managers are also placed into certain parameters on salary. To change the rules and to lift caps for particular individuals is simply wrong and sends a horrible message to the entire workforce.
I don't think education chancellors in the Washington, DC area should be competing on salary and paid like Baseball players with constant escalating caps. No Baseball player is worth $25 million a year just as no public servant- Federal, State or local official should be paid more than their US Senator, Governor or County Exec/Mayor. The President of the US salary was recently lifted to $400,000 per year. The VP is still sitting at a little more than $200,000 per year. How can the Chancellor of the DC School system make tens of thousands of dollars more than the VP. It is just outrageous and a theft of public funds.
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36370
I was referring to her first 2 hires that exceeded the pay ceiling for the District. If she can't do that right what makes you think she will effect the change needed. 2 years is long enough to start improving test scores
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36268
Firstly, I don't think she had a lot of involvement in her own hiring. Secondly, I think we need to look a little beyond 2 years. Changing the culture and expectations of students, teachers, parents and adminstrative staff enough to translate into concrete results is not going to happen overnight. Especially not in a place where people find very little to support and seem to be rallying for failure. Sound familiar?
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36257
Another very insightful article.
In my opinion the answer is no-- the Federal Government is not ready for Gen Xer managers. In fact, most I know get so frustrated in the red tape they quickly run for the exit.
As far as Michelle over at the DC School is concerned-- good luck. You can't keep firing people as a method for improving an organization that is dysfunctional-- you can slowly change the culture to make it a performing organization through positive one minute manager/gung ho type stuff ala Ken Blanchard but beating people up becomes less and less effective over time. Michelle is way too young to really know how to manage this-- in fact the Mayor is too young to really appreciate this as well. These Gen Xers are truly impatient and I have no doubt the Washington Teachers Union will use frustration as the means to get them to quit.
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36232
She talks the talk, but her first efforts out of the box was a hiring and salary that was a disaster. Get back to me in 2 years and lets see what progress the students have made
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