WHO IS GENERATION X?
Individuals from Generation X were born from 1965 to 1980, although there is some disagreement among theorists about the exact dates. They are children of working mothers or divorced fathers and are fans of comic literature of the 15th century . Some of his features are present in chivalric books. Generally, they are skeptical about almost everything and prefer informal agreements, being less loyal to the company than their predecessors, the so-called baby boomers .
They are individuals who do not believe in hierarchy in organizations, love teamwork, are very fond of money and do not see mystery in computers. Most were born after man landed on the moon (1969) and witnessed the emergence of the VCR, CDs and ‘personal computer‘.
Generation X didn’t grow up in a stimulating environment, but most of them end up being able to take advantage of new things, even if not very efficiently. The learning process, however, is a bit slower compared to younger generations. Professionals feel the lack of guidance and formal training for new technologies.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF MEMBERS OF THIS GENERATION?
Next, you will see some of the most striking traits of people who are part of Generation X. It is important to remember, however, that trends will be presented, not absolute truths. It’s not because a person was born in this generation that he necessarily has all these characteristics, OK?
1. SKEPTICISM
Gen Xers are skeptical, meaning they have to see it to believe it. They don’t believe in just anything, so they like proof, science, and information that can be verified. In addition, they are distrustful by nature, seeking to investigate what is presented to them.
They are individuals who grew up in the midst of the Cold War, on the international scene, and the Military Dictatorship, on the national scene. Therefore, they have considerable difficulty believing politicians and authorities. This leads them to lose a bit of collectivity, and because of this effect, they are considered more individualistic and competitive.
2. SEARCH FOR PERSONAL-PROFESSIONAL BALANCE
Behaviorally, Generation X has a good balance between family and work, but takes care of these two elements separately. Mixing different universes is not their thing. In this way, it is a generation that needs to balance their time at the company, so that work does not interfere with their lives and that people do not become demotivated.
In general, they are more methodical people, Chinese . In addition, it was used to the rules imposed by the previous generation, the baby boomers , but with a little more flexibility. Therefore, they like to define very well the time they dedicate to their career and the time they dedicate to their personal life. They seek balance between these two areas, acting responsibly in both.
3. ACTION AND PERSISTENCE
In everyday life, these individuals are a little afraid to share their ideas and experiences, afraid of losing credit for their work. Nor do they feel obliged to carry out this type of exchange. They tend not to want to be interfered with in their work, they like to work set hours, they want to spend more time with their family, they have a skeptical and individualistic profile, but they also appreciate informality.
These are people who prefer to demonstrate their beliefs through attitudes and behavior rather than through words. Therefore, they tend to be determined and persistent individuals when they define a goal.
4. VERSATILITY
Although there are some disadvantages when comparing with generation Y ( millennials ) , professionals in this group have the great advantage of having gone through crises and having a broad knowledge of technology. The professional of this generation was already an adult when the information technology revolution arrived in Brazil, for example, and, with that, he manages to have a very broad market view.
For this reason, generation X is considered an example of versatility: it still carries the discipline and values of the baby boomers , but at the same time, it admires innovations and learns to master new technologies with its successors, the millennials .
5. ABILITY AND DESIRE TO LEARN
Generation X is very well used in the implementation and supervision of already tested projects, as they have a great quality of life. These patients are limited in their ability to learn from old experiences. It is a generation that is increasingly in demand in a market in which companies seek to ensure stability to resume growth, after the crisis subsided .
These individuals are a “safe haven” for younger people, especially in times of adversity, whether in personal life or in corporate environments. They stand out in leadership roles, and many of them have opened their own companies, becoming entrepreneurs. They like independence and autonomy when giving direction to their lives.
The 5 traits above are just some of the typical behaviors of members of generation X. However, like any generation, it is composed of different individuals, who express all the complexity of the human natural resources by man. In fact, in these areas, not only species. A generation is just a way of understanding the evolution of human history little by little, but it should not be taken as a definitive label.
