3 Lessons from Gen Y that We'd Best Not Ignore
The more I interact with Gen Y, the more I think they've got it figured out better than the rest of us. Instead of criticizing them, let's learn from them. Three things we can learn:
1. Trade your "ladder" for a tapestry. Unlike previous generations, Gen Y has never had a career ladder. As Bruce Tulgan writes in Not Everyone Gets a Trophy, Gen Y isn't thinking in terms of a ladder. Instead, they're much more about learning, relationships, proving their ability to add value, and lifestyle flexibility. The result is not a ladder but a tapestry. Doesn't that sound a whole lot more fun than a ladder? (By the way, the ladder no longer exists.)
2. Treat eager new associates with care and enthusiasm. When I was in grad school, I had two internships. At the first, I was greeted on Day One with a smile and a handshake from my boss (who met me in the lobby), a beautiful, well-stocked workspace with a huge welcome sign, and lots of meaningful structure.
At the second internship, when I walked in on Day One, my boss turned around from her seat, smiled and said, "How's it goin'?" No handshake, "no nothing" really in the form of an orientation. The structure consisted of a not-very-compelling to-do list. Both internships were successful, but in the first scenario, the folks made it so much easier to succeed. For Gen Y (and the rest of us), first impressions are critical.
3. Let's stop asking job candidates, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Who knows the answer to that question? Nobody. It's not clever, it's outdated. Gen Y certainly isn't thinking that far ahead -- they're much more concerned about today. If we want to get a glimpse of a candidate's world, perhaps a better question would be, "What are your goals?" or "How do you see yourself contributing to our profession?"
Questions? Comments? Send them to info@realworldetiquette.com.
Additional Resources
Books
The Trophy Kids Grow Up: How the Millennial Generation is Shaking Up the Workplace
Choosing Civility: The Twenty-Five Rules of Considerate Conduct (P.M. Forni)
Ready or Not, Here Life Comes (Mel Levine, MD)
Articles
Finding Happiness in a Harvard Classroom (NPR)
In Praise of Boundaries: A Conversation with Miss Manners (Harvard Business Review)
Is Success Just Dumb Luck? (cnn.com)
Miscellaneous
“The ‘Millennials’ Are Coming” (special report by “60 Minutes”)