By Tony
Deblauwe
The generation Y workplace is presenting new challenges for bosses all over the
world. Managers who are comfortable leading an older workforce may have to
adjust their style to keep the 18-30 year old crowd satisfied.
A 2008
study of young professionals from the Chartered
Management Institute indicates that the “twitter generation” doesn’t always
fit the stereotypes that are applied to them. Rather than being shiftless and
unmotivated, this group can be quite ambitious. They just have different
priorities and expectations.
According
to CareerBuilder’s
2007 survey, here are some of the benefits the generation Y workplace
expects:
·
Access to current technology
·
Better pay and more time off
·
Greater flexibility in scheduling work hours
·
A faster path to promotion
Managing The Twitter Generation
Young
workers are more likely to switch jobs than older employees. Having a bad boss
is a typical reason to move on. So, what do these workers want from their managers?
Jenny Floren, CEO of Experience, Inc. offers an interesting
insight. Gen Y members won’t tolerate dishonesty or “spin”. They want candid,
open communication with their superiors at work. In addition, younger employees
crave continual, actionable feedback and positive reinforcement.
Bosses
also need to rethink their views on productivity when managing the generation Y
workplace. This group is more likely to blur the lines between work and
personal life. For example, many younger workers don’t object to being
contacted by their employer outside of working hours. If they feel that their
job is meaningful, they are motivated to go the extra mile to get things done.
On the
other hand, they definitely expect to have access to the web during office
hours. Taking a relaxed approach to reasonable personal internet use may not be
a bad management strategy. A study from the University of Melbourne
recently revealed that employees who participate in “Workplace Internet Leisure
Browsing” are more productive than those who forgo this small pleasure.
For a
complete guide on how to be effective with a difficult manager click here.
