Can the Baby Boomers Teach the Current Generation

Can the Baby Boomers Teach the Current Generation? Dr Mike Masding Head of Wessex Foundation School Consultant Physician, Poole Hospital

What do we mean by generations?

Generations • Baby Boomers 1946 -1964 • Generation X 1965 -1984 • Generation Y 1985 -2004

Generations • Baby Boomers 1946 -1964 Consultants / GPs • Generation X 1965 -1984 Consultants/GPs/Some juniors • Generation Y Junior doctors 1985 -2004

Baby Boomers / Generation X • • Experienced Respect hierarchy Used to competition Loyal to: – Career – Organisation – Profession

Generation Y / Millenials / Generation Me • Assertive • High expectations • Used to shallow hierarchies • Open & emotional • Internet generation • ? Anxiety/depression

Generation Y / Millenials / Generation Me

Some caveats I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words. When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint.

Hesiod – in 700 BC I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words. When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint.

George Orwell Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it

FY 1 s ……. . • Undertaking complex emergency treatment with poor supervision • Large administrative burden • Excluded from clinical meetings • Little time for study or reflection

PRHO jobs in 1964 • Undertaking complex emergency treatment with poor supervision • Large administrative burden • Excluded from clinical meetings • Little time for study or reflection Hutton et al, Lancet, 1964

FY 1 jobs ……. • • ‘work pressure’ ‘link communication person’ ‘glorified ward clerk’ ‘dustbin’

PRHO jobs in 1991 • • ‘work pressure’ ‘link communication person’ ‘glorified ward clerk’ ‘dustbin’ Dowling & Barrett, Bristol, 1991

Beware Catastrophising • • • PRHOs New Deal Calman Sp. Rs MMC New junior doctor contract • New consultant contract…?

Some caveats • What generations think of each other (Orwell etc) • Being a junior doctor (‘plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose’) • It’s the end of the world…

Can the Baby Boomers teach the current generation? • ‘In my day…’ • Humiliation • ‘Apprenticeship’ HOW NOT TO DO IT!!!

Can the Baby Boomers teach the current generation? • Be explicit in your instructions – THAT’S WHAT INDUCTION SHOULD BE FOR! • Lots of Feedback – USE ASSESSMENTS, USE THE EPORTFOLIO OR JUST GIVE FEEDBACK • Learn from workplace experience – THROUGH PROFESSIONAL CONVERSATIONS, NOT ‘OSMOSIS’ YES!!!