As a parent in today’s culture I think that “it was never this bad,” when I look at our youth and the problems they face.  Each generation seems to live further and further on the edge.  No longer do we have little tanks we drive around on video games shooting brick walls and different colored tanks, now we have real life simulated war scenes that make you think and feel like you are killing another human being.  As each generation evolves so does their way of thinking about work, the office, and what motivates them to perform.  Many of the baby boomers are living with the mindset that defined them, and because of that, they are unable to successfully manage this generation of associate optometrists.  Here are 3 reasons Baby Boomers don’t understand their associate.

1. Money “sort of” motivates – Baby boomers as a whole have emphasized the work philosophy where a hard days work results in a paycheck that feeds the family, buys a house with a yard, builds a 401k, and supports the dream of one day retiring.  The post-boomers have a different view about the priority of money.  They still like to make a good income but it is not the finish line of retirement that they emphasize as their parents have done.  Their motivation is the journey along the way and they are willing to make less money and put less money away to enjoy the moment.  This often plays out in the optometry office as a desire to see fewer patients and work three days a week instead of five or six.
2. Away from the office does not equal off work – Baby boomers are a product of the industrial revolution where their parents moved from the farm into the big city to work at a factory from 9-5.  Contrary to this, post-boomers like and want autonomy with their work.  They don’t want to be in an office all day and when polled, would best excel in a ROWE (results only work environment).  “No matter what kind of business you’re in, it’s time to throw away the time cards, tardy slips, time clocks, and outdated industrial-age thinking.” (from the book Drive by Daniel H. Pink) Your new associate thinks differently about a work week and the baby boomer who allows his associate to chart remotely may find a more productive associate.
3. Lack of initiative – Many of today’s associate optometrists have been raised with a silver spoon.  Not all of them have been raised wealthy, but compared to the difficult times that future generations have had to endure, those born after 1970 have not had much to worry about financially.  If you are an exception to this rule, your comments are welcome below.  Due to the silver spoon, working hard to succeed financially and starting a practice from the ground up is a very distant thought.  With salaries starting around $55,000 and higher, for private practice, and $85,000 and higher, for commercial practice, today’s graduating optometrists find themselves with starting salaries way above the national average for job entry.  This results in a complacent attitude and redefined idea of work, compared to previous generations that literally started at the bottom.

If you find yourself frustrated with your associate or you are an associate that wonders why your boss does not understand you.  Stop and consider the differences that have shaped the way you think about money and work.  The way business operates continues to evolve whether you are in the business of shipping packages or owning an optometry practice.  To continue to run your business successfully, you must adapt and change to the different generations that you lead.