Passing the Baton Gordon Youngs Personnel Services Director Brea CA

Issues in Succession Management Background – Generational Changes Background – Generational Changes What are the Challenges? What are the Challenges? What Others are Doing What Others are Doing Strategies for Organizational Success Strategies for Organizational Success

The Generational Shift The Silent Generation (pre 1946) and Baby Boomers ( ) The Silent Generation (pre 1946) and Baby Boomers ( ) Retired or reaching retirement age Retired or reaching retirement age More people retiring = more vacancies More people retiring = more vacancies Generation X ( ) and the Millennials (1981-) Generation X ( ) and the Millennials (1981-) Fewer coming into public workforce Fewer coming into public workforce Different skills, different motivations Different skills, different motivations

Impact of Generation Changes Loss of institutional knowledge Loss of institutional knowledge Loss of Perspective Loss of Perspective Changing attitudes Changing attitudes Changing skills - Changing skills - What are the right skills?

Challenges: What Are the Right Skills? What the Older Generation Knows: What the Older Generation Knows: Laws and regulations Laws and regulations Accounting principles Accounting principles Accountability and Ethics Accountability and Ethics Conventional Thinking Conventional Thinking What the Younger Generation Brings: What the Younger Generation Brings: Urgency / Impatience Questions Fewer basic skills Transitory Ethics Adaptation

Challenges: Why Arent Young People Choosing Local Government? Lack of knowledge Lack of knowledge Anti-government bias Anti-government bias Insufficient outreach Insufficient outreach Perceptions of bureaucracy and red tape Perceptions of bureaucracy and red tape Bottom of the barrel myth Bottom of the barrel myth Preference for the profit sector Preference for the profit sector

Challenges: What Are Young Professionals Saying? Lack of experience / opportunities Lack of experience / opportunities Lack of mentoring and mentors Lack of mentoring and mentors Desire for a better balance between family and personal life over career Desire for a better balance between family and personal life over career

What Are Others Doing ? The PNG Initiative Background Background Two pronged approach Two pronged approach oAttract young people oDevelop those already in the pipeline Programs and resources Programs and resources 1.Resource Book 2.Coaching Initiative 3.Management Talent Exchange Program 4.On-Line Internship Clearinghouse

Strategies for Public Officials Stop bashing government Stop bashing government Insist on civility Insist on civility Promote the rewards of service Promote the rewards of service Reach out to students Reach out to students Introduce teens to public service Introduce teens to public service Allow mis-steps by young professionals Allow mis-steps by young professionals

Best Practices Develop mentoring programs Develop mentoring programs Encourage job shadowing Encourage job shadowing Start a management trainee program Start a management trainee program Create a rotation program Create a rotation program Develop leadership training programs Develop leadership training programs Sponsor management forums Sponsor management forums Create a formal succession plan Create a formal succession plan

Best Practices Know your organization Know your organization Identify tomorrows talent pool Identify tomorrows talent pool Cultivate opportunities for leadership Cultivate opportunities for leadership Create a learning organization Create a learning organization Water the green spots Water the green spots

Best Practices Changing Our Own Attitudes Recognize talent development as a primary role Recognize talent development as a primary role Be a risk taker, and encourage creativity Be a risk taker, and encourage creativity Develop a broader notion of professional legacy Develop a broader notion of professional legacy Ask them what they think, what they want Ask them what they think, what they want

Share Your Experiences… Do any of you have examples you can offer to the others here today? Do any of you have examples you can offer to the others here today? Do you have questions? Do you have questions? I have a question for you… I have a question for you…

What Will You Do? List 1-2 things you will do when you return to your organization to: Attract young people to local government Attract young people to local government Develop talent already in your organization Develop talent already in your organization

Resources Next Generation Resource Guide Book Next Generation Resource Guide Book MMASC and MMANC websites: MMASC and MMANC websites:

Thank You, and good luck in your succession management.