Gen X'ers were born between 1965 1981. They were the first hand witnesses to the mess-ups of baby boomers. Often this generation feels disconnected to the rest of their generation. Referred to as "latch-key kids" the Gen X'ers were the first ones to experiance witnessing mass divorce and their parents getting laid-off.
Growing up in single parent households, many of these youth came home to empty households after school and weren't allowed out of the house as kids due to an instilled paranoia. This was the first generation to have to check their halloween candy for razor blades. News stories like this caused an atmosphere of skepticism and quiet concern with their surroundings.
They are characteristically more productive than the Baby Boomer generation. Known for keeping their heads down and working quietly not standing out this group is very resilient. They saw their parents get let go from the jobs they worked hard for, the Gen X kids know there is no such thing as job security.
This generation was not nurtured as kids and grew up in a environment where there was a lot of fear propagated about children through the mainstream media. This kind of environment allowed the Gen X generation to develop a strong outer shell where they can fend for themselves.
In order to motivate this generation you need to provide custom packages. This means more options, choices and selections. They want the opportunity to challenge themselves to formulate a new process and develop creative conclusions.
To motivate a Gen X'er you need a clear statement of goals that are broad enough that they can implement their creativity in completing. Spend time with them building a strong mentorship and they will become loyal employees. They require clear and frequent feedback on their progress and strongly dislike micro-managing.
