CASE STUDY:

Hector is a 42-year old division manager in a computer software company near Charlotte, NC with the assignment to create a marketing plan for the newly created program for this longtime international company.  Hector leads a team of 12 experts for this task.  This team is primarily Gen Xers like Hector and 2 Millennials. Martha, the Boomer CEO, is great and wanted the team to present the plan and strategy for marketing to the senior leadership team of several Boomers and two Traditionalists.  The team did a great job.  They looked professional.  They knew the plan thoroughly and they responded well to all the questions and points the senior leadership team threw out to the Hector and his team.  From Hectors point of view, they listened and responded well.

But then the presentation and meeting went south quickly.  Aaron, a Millennial on of Hectors team, started texting under the table and using his phone.  The head of financial strategy confronted him and Aaron defended himself.  Hector attempted to guide this confrontation with humor and insight.  But the tension in the room was thick.  The senior leadership was fired up.  The whole meeting imploded.

Martha called for a break suggesting teams meet at various locations in the complex for a few hours.  But when the teams returned to the conference room to continue the presentation and discussion, the energy was gone and several members were distracted with the cell phone issue.  Martha closed the meeting with assignments for everyone to submit suggestions and proposals in writing to Marthas VP of strategy, Donald, for further review and consideration.

Hector communicated to Donald that his team was engaged and Aaron was a major contributor to this marketing plan.  He explained that his team uses their cell phones in a variety of ways, and they stay engaged and on task.  Hector values the fresh ideas of his younger team members to include Aaron.   

What proposal would you submit to Donald, the VP of strategy (a Boomer)?