Generational Differences: Tebow Gets Results With 5 Gen Y Characteristics

As I watched the final minutes of last Sunday's Denver Bronco's game against the

Miami Dolphins I realized that Tim Tebow is more than a star to many fans. Tebow is a Gen Y star.

With Miami in the lead 15-0 and only 5:23 minutes remaining in the game, Tebow was statistically "unstellar" for the game with only 13 pass completions out of 27 for 161 yards. The sports announcer commented that his stats were not pretty but that the 24 year-old Gen Y would be evaluated this game not on statistics but on his ability to "get the job done". In the end, he scored the final TD and rallied the team to 18-15 win. NFL pundits have expressed doubt his ability to succeed because of his unorthodox style.

Hearing the announcer's words bore the thought of Gen Y people and how they get things done differently than older generations. As the newest group to the workplace, they are unconventional - a nice way of saying that they work in ways that leave many business owners and managers peeved and perplexed. As more get into the workforce, it is possible that established ways of getting work done and how it is measured, like football statistics, will shift a bit. When Gen Y are on the job there will be new ways for getting work done and new ways for measuring success.

Here are 5 Aspects of Gen Y that, like Tebow have potential for creating new routes to results.

Aspect #1. Gen Y are young and confident. "You can do anything you put your heart and mind to and here are the skills, tools, and experience to make it happen" This is the message Gen Y have heard from parents and teachers all of their lives. They have become confident in themselves enough to ask for what they want and to use it in unorthodox ways.

Aspect #2. Gen Y are self-expressive individuals. They want to be unique and seen as different from everyone, even their peers. Tattoos, the way they dress and body piercings are means of self-expression. PEW research says they pray as often as their elders did in their youth but in less traditional ways, like "Tebowing".

Aspect #3. Gen Y are globally aware and accepting of different cultures and ways of doing things. Their learning platform is the world. Like Tebow's early years, the Y Generation experience huge shifts in lifestyles, in technology, the economy, and war.

Aspect #4. Gen Y expect change. Change in the way we do everything is coming faster than ever. The internet adjusts products and markets based on real-time information creating changes that inspire rather than disrupt Gen Y the way they do Boomers. Changes don't seem to rattle Tebow.

Aspects # 5. Gen Y are upbeat and resilient. Tebow has leadership qualities that inspire his teammates when the going is tough. Gen Y are creating ways to survive low employment in a recovering economy. Nine in ten say that they currently have enough money and will eventually meet their long-term goals. They drive less and are committed to buying used cars. They want houses that are smaller, more efficient and low maintenance. Tebow would probably play any position in the NFL to meet his career goals.

And, I hope that business owners and managers will do for Gen Y what Bronco's center Mike Pouncey said for Tebow, "... get off him about what he can't do and talk about the things that he can do" to get the job done and increase motivation in the workplace.

Bottom Line, understanding the unique characteristics of Gen Y employees can create a greatly improved work environment and higher quality and level of results.

by: Tinker Barnett

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