Stop complaining about Gen Y and learn how to work with them.
Not since the women's movement caused an uproar over the "Battle of the
Sexes" has there been so much press about a change in the workplace. The "Battle
of the Generations" has been getting a lot of attention in the past several
months and it's mostly centering on the youngest generation in the workforce:
Gen Y. Everyone from The Wall Street Journal to The New York Times has had
significant articles about how difficult the "kids" are to work with. Is there
any good news? As with all hot-button issues, there's another side of the story.
Let's take a quick look at who the "enemy" is. Gen Yers are between 18 and 29
years old. They're the first generation that has grown up exposed to computers
their entire life and consider cell phones, instant messaging and the internet
part of their normal way of life. They're also a generation known for being
encouraged and even fawned over for the sheer fact of their existence. Pretty
heady stuff to those who remember the civil rights struggles, the Vietnam War
and the women's movement.
s there a way for us to work together productively? Absolutely. Let's look
at how we can play to everyone's strengths. To get insight on this sensitive
issue, I went to the expert--Mary Clark, executive director of Winning
Workplaces, who says Gen Yers can offer a lot
to those of us over 55.
They're tech savvy. Many of us who are over 55 use technology to
accomplish specific tasks but aren't totally comfortable with all the
applications that would make our work easier. Clark has found that the
younger generation can look at a problem and solve it before we get our arms
around it.
They're connected to the marketplace. While we're reading
newspapers and magazines, which reflect on things that have happened,
they're reading blogs and wikis and can see what is happening now and can
more easily predict what will happen in the future.
They have boundless energy. Maybe it's their youth or their "I
can do anything" attitudes, but Gen Yers have a tremendous amount of energy
and enthusiasm.
While it's good to recognize strengths, we've all heard extensive reports of
the difficulties of working with younger employees. But you don't have to have
that same experience. Here are several ways to accentuate Gen Y's positives and
minimize their negatives:
Let them participate. Invite your employees to participate in
discussions that affect their work and listen to their ideas. This can be a
challenge because their feedback may not be what you're expecting or what
you want to hear.
Consider reorganization. It might be time to reorganize your
employees and their work flow into teams. This may require a huge shift in
your thinking, but it's become increasingly important for all employees in
your business to know what everyone else is doing. This will improve
cooperation among departments, provide great cross training and foster
efficient problem solving.
Reorganizing also leads to another concept that may be challenging:
flextime. Many organizational gurus say that the traditional nine-to-five
work day is going the way of white-wall tires. As you re-examine your
organization, determine whether it's really necessary to have employees
punching the clock.
Give feedback. Gen Yers feel it's important to know what they're
doing well and to link needed improvements to goals and benchmarks. Setting
goals, next steps and measurable outcomes is the most effective way to
create accountability and shared expectations. It's also an excellent way to
keep your company on track.
Be a mentor. Even though we hear about their agility at IMing,
texting and social networking, it's important for us to remember that the
work environment is new for many of today's young employees. They aren't
always clear on how to relate to colleagues and clients, and they're
encountering a host of new challenges. This is part of our role as business
leaders: We need to connect them to the value of relationships and
experience.
Clark says what we're really grappling with in this "Battle of the
Generations" is change. Just as we freaked out our elders with tie-dyed shirts,
protesting and wild music, the Gen Yers are challenging us with their new ways.
We turned out pretty darn well, and they probably will, too.
Bonnie Price, founder of Silver Vixen Enterprises, is a lifelong entrepreneur. She owns SilverVixens, an online membership community to connect and inform Women of a Certain Age. She also writes the After 55 blog.
