Managing Generation Y

Explain the Importance of Tasks and Projects Explain the importance of the Whys Explain the importance of the Whys Generation Y wants to understand the genuine need to perform functions or tasks Generation Y wants to understand the genuine need to perform functions or tasks Managers may find that constant questioning to be frustrating and challenging to overcome Managers may find that constant questioning to be frustrating and challenging to overcome Generation Y provides fresh perspectives which are likely to bring new ideas to organizations and professions Generation Y provides fresh perspectives which are likely to bring new ideas to organizations and professions

Clearly Delineate Expectations Desires to be valued based on their intelligence and contributions to the organization Desires to be valued based on their intelligence and contributions to the organization They are hard workers who are motivated by clearly defined goals They are hard workers who are motivated by clearly defined goals There needs to be a clear dialogue between managers and employees There needs to be a clear dialogue between managers and employees Managers should be able to define parameters without ambiguity Managers should be able to define parameters without ambiguity A challenge associated with this is that it is not always possible to eliminate ambiguity in complex work environments A challenge associated with this is that it is not always possible to eliminate ambiguity in complex work environments

Clearly Delineate Expectations Cont. Firms should train and encourage new staff through the use of management development or mentoring programs Firms should train and encourage new staff through the use of management development or mentoring programs Open dialogue about career progression will establish an environment of mutual respect and understanding Open dialogue about career progression will establish an environment of mutual respect and understanding

Provide Employee Feedback Generation Y looks at work like a computer game – they want immediate feedback on their performance Generation Y looks at work like a computer game – they want immediate feedback on their performance Employees will seek job success and recognition right away – move to the next level Employees will seek job success and recognition right away – move to the next level An associated challenge is that managers will need to explain the success and privileges do not happen over night An associated challenge is that managers will need to explain the success and privileges do not happen over night Managers should define the normal progression during the recruiting process Managers should define the normal progression during the recruiting process Open dialogue will help new employees grow and feel valued Open dialogue will help new employees grow and feel valued

Embrace Technological Innovation Generation Y is comfortable with technology and maintains a certain level of expertise Generation Y is comfortable with technology and maintains a certain level of expertise They provide the additional resources necessary to build a companys technological capabilities They provide the additional resources necessary to build a companys technological capabilities Their proficiency with newer technologies provides greater opportunities for efficiency (eg: instant messenger) Their proficiency with newer technologies provides greater opportunities for efficiency (eg: instant messenger) Managers should encourage employees to use innovative technologies to make the workplace more efficient Managers should encourage employees to use innovative technologies to make the workplace more efficient Challenge: the informalities associated with instant messaging may be reflected in professional s Challenge: the informalities associated with instant messaging may be reflected in professional s Managers should explicitly communicate the appropriate style and etiquette to new hires Managers should explicitly communicate the appropriate style and etiquette to new hires

Explain Criticisms Generation Y has been educated to build a high level of self esteem making them very confident and optimistic Generation Y has been educated to build a high level of self esteem making them very confident and optimistic They have high expectations and are sometimes unaware of their limitations They have high expectations and are sometimes unaware of their limitations Challenge: most of Generation Y doesnt experience constructive criticism until college and must develop the ability to accept it in the work environment Challenge: most of Generation Y doesnt experience constructive criticism until college and must develop the ability to accept it in the work environment Initially Generation Y employees tend to have trouble accepting responsibility for shortcomings or failures in their work Initially Generation Y employees tend to have trouble accepting responsibility for shortcomings or failures in their work It is important that organizations frame assignments clearly and that criticism is structured constructively It is important that organizations frame assignments clearly and that criticism is structured constructively

Consider Flexible Schedules Generation Y employees desire a balance between work and family life Generation Y employees desire a balance between work and family life Organizations should consider adding increased flexibility to work schedules as well as options such as working from home Organizations should consider adding increased flexibility to work schedules as well as options such as working from home Efforts should be made to minimize excessive overtime and extended travel Efforts should be made to minimize excessive overtime and extended travel

Describe Limitations on Multitasking Generation Y grew up in an environment that encouraged multitasking Generation Y grew up in an environment that encouraged multitasking They are adept to handling multiple tasks simultaneously They are adept to handling multiple tasks simultaneously While multitasking can be useful in the work environment, there are times when they need explicit instructions to focus on only one task While multitasking can be useful in the work environment, there are times when they need explicit instructions to focus on only one task Managers should also ensure that that the rules concerning the use of computers, cell phones, and PDAs during work hours are explicitly described Managers should also ensure that that the rules concerning the use of computers, cell phones, and PDAs during work hours are explicitly described

Encourage Collaboration Generation Y employees grew up with the ability to work well in teams Generation Y employees grew up with the ability to work well in teams Managers should encourage collaboration when it is appropriate Managers should encourage collaboration when it is appropriate Not all tasks can be a collaborative effort, but there is always room for innovation Not all tasks can be a collaborative effort, but there is always room for innovation Managers should consider reorganizing tasks to allow collaborative efforts and novel approached to projects Managers should consider reorganizing tasks to allow collaborative efforts and novel approached to projects