I distinctly remember being at a museum conference about 10 years ago, when I was a department manager but not yet at the senior level, and scanning the program to figure out where I fit in: the director sessions weren’t open to me, and with about 10 years of museum work under my belt at that point, the sessions aimed at emerging professionals were too basic. Because I worked at a small museum and had wide-ranging responsibilities, I didn’t only want to focus on one content area, like education. It was at that point that I started to think about Gen Xers in the field, and what resources I felt like I needed that I couldn’t find. Since then, I’ve been working to address this topic as part of an ad-hoc group of New England-based Gen-X museum colleagues.

Before I go further: a few disclaimers. First, it’s impossible to talk about any generation without reverting to some stereotypes. Certainly, each individual and his/her situation is different, and my conclusions are based largely on anecdotal evidence rather than any formal survey or study. Second, I am using the term “Gen-X museum professional” synonymously with “mid-career museum professional,” as most of the Gen-X museum people I know have been in the field for around 15-20 years. However, I realize that these terms are not necessarily interchangeable (there are mid-career professionals of other generations, and Gen Xers who have more or less experience than the mid-career definition).

Specific parameters vary, but Generation X is generally defined as encompassing people born between the mid-1960s and the early 1980s; the first Gen Xers turned 50 in 2015. We are a relatively small generation, with about 55 million of us born during our generation as compared to Baby Boomers (76 million) and Millennials (66 million). We came of age during the peak divorce rate in American history, and were much more likely than previous generations to have mothers in the workplace, hence the stereotype of the “latch-key” kid. Seen as disenfranchised and independent, we have been largely overlooked in comparison to the larger and more visible Boomers and Millenials.

At the risk of sounding melodramatic, I think that the overlooked potential of Gen Xers is a full-scale crisis in the museum world. Let me explain why, and then share some ideas about how we and our colleagues can address the problem.

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First, I want to underscore the fact that Generation X is worth investing in. Generally speaking, we are at a stage in our careers where we are productive and efficient, likely with relatively little oversight required. We tend to be loyal, highly invested in our employer’s mission, and eager to have a positive impact. We are less likely to job-hop than Millennials, and better able to adapt to new technologies than Boomers. We are likely to be the keepers of significant amounts of institutional memory. We have many years of productive employment ahead of us.

Despite these good qualities, Generation X museum staff may not see a clear path ahead. Though more Boomers are retiring now, many of them delayed retirement in the aftermath of the financial crisis. If there is not a succession plan in place at our current institutions, we are likely at the stage (which Pew calls “the middle innings of life”) where we can’t pick up and move to a new city: we have mortgages, aging parents, kids in school, strong community networks, and partners/spouses rooted in their careers (which, frankly, probably pay better than ours). Many Gen-X museum staff I know feel at sea: they want to be directors but can’t find an appropriate opportunity; they don’t want to be directors but feel that anything else is a lateral move; and/or they don’t see opportunities for growth in their current jobs.

For these and for many other reasons, Generation Xers are leaving the field. While I don’t have hard data to support this (though a report—covering all generations—is forthcoming from colleagues), after 19 years in the field, I would posit that my anecdotal evidence is a reliable snapshot. I personally know scores of talented, committed, creative Gen Xers who have left the museum field and are not likely to return. While reasons vary widely from individual to individual and it’s hard to draw concrete conclusions as to why, what concerns me is that this is a silent exodus: once they have moved on to other fields (teaching, higher education, foundations to name a few), they no longer have a voice in the museum community, and their absence is not recognized. We need to keep good Gen Xers in the field, so we have seasoned professionals to step into the roles that Boomers are leaving.

The picture I’ve painted may seem bleak, but the challenges are not insurmountable. Here are a few ideas:

For Gen Xers:

Speak up for yourself. Millenials are better at this than we are, and we can learn from them. Toot your own horn, make yourself and your accomplishments visible, but do so in a way that feels authentic to you. You have nothing to lose and potentially much to gain.
Be creative and keep an open mind. While we grew up thinking that careers are linear, the gig economy is proving that that’s not true. It can seem unfathomable to step off the ladder, but it is worth considering whether another path – or even slight detour – could lead to new skills and insights.

Explore resources. An article I found particularly useful is Anne Ackerson’s Strategize Me: Making a Personal Career Plan, published in the March/April 2017 issue of Museum (excerpted from the book A Life in Museums: Managing Your Museum Career). Jenny Blake’s book Pivot: The Only Move that Matters Is Your Next One is another resource that several friends have found helpful.
Find each other. Though there are many groups devoted to young/emerging museum professionals, I don’t know of any that are specifically geared to Gen Xers (please correct me if I’m wrong!). It can be isolating to be part of a relatively small generation, especially if you’re at a small institution. Whether through informal meetings, online networks, or a more formalized group, connect with your peers. Comment here and share your ideas for how we can best network as a peer group.

For museum leadership and boards:

Notice your Generation X employees. We tend to be “heads down,” “workhorse” employees, and relatively low maintenance. We are probably under the radar, and are not likely to seek out attention. The stereotype of Gen X as the “middle child” (the “Jan Brady” of the generations) may ring true. We are almost comically overlooked: one person attending the NEMA session on intergenerational workplaces facilitated by a team of six Gen Xers commented that she wished there were a group who could bridge the gap between Millennials and Boomers. We are here. Coax us away from our desks, ask us our opinions, and we’ll likely have good insights that we wouldn’t necessarily have offered proactively.

Ask Generation X employees what they need, and do your best to provide it. Gen Xers are less likely than Millennials to ask for opportunities, but no less likely to need them. One common request among Gen-X colleagues I’ve spoken to is more coaching and mentoring for new directors. We may need flex time to address the “middle innings” we’re navigating. We may need specific training on management topics like HR (another request I’ve heard from multiple people). These things are doable, and not expensive, and will go a long way toward retaining good people.

Remember that there are different styles of leadership, and that Gen X’s brand may be different from the Boomer style that museum boards are likely to be more familiar with. That doesn’t mean it’s less effective. I love the point that “no drama” Barack Obama’s leadership style is characteristic of Gen X (though technically he is a tail-end Boomer): collaborative, deliberative, and able to compromise for the greater good.

Join me and my colleagues Elisabeth Nevins, Purvi Patwari, Dawn Salerno, Marieke Van Damme as we explore Gen X issues in the workplace at the New England Museum Association annual conference October 25-27 in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

About the Author

Tara is the Deputy Director of the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, MA, and is a faculty member in the Tufts University Museum Studies program. Her frequent references to Seinfeld are a dead giveaway that she is a proud member of Generation X.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section]