subject: Do You Want a PDA With That Meeting? [print this page] Do You Want a PDA With That Meeting? Do You Want a PDA With That Meeting?
OK, these feelings may very well be placed somewhere between good manners, a huge generation gap, or just plain old-fashioned relic. I was recently in an important meeting with some young whippersnappers; you know around the age of 35 or so...
As the dialog moved around the strategic topics, two of the five participants began to spend a great deal of time on their PDAs. Actually, I had to wonder if they were talking to each other via text, and of course whom they were talking about...
I was reminded of an interesting survey conducted by LexisNexis released a few months back on the varied perceptions of the different generations in the workplace on the use of technology. I went back to my notes to pull out the details.
Before discussing the appropriate leadership response to the case let me also share another bit of fact from the survey dealing with perception.
"Over half of the Gen X and Boomers surveyed, and a whopping 69% of Gen Y surveyed perceived there was a huge generational gap in technology in the workplace". At least we agree on something.
But I might argue/rationalize that Boomers are coming around to the technology pool. According to Facebook, the most significant growth segment is Boomers, much to the chagrin of most of their teens... And most of us have come around to "texting" on the phone, otherwise we simply cannot communicate with our kids. Even my Mom, at age, well lets just say older than me, sends text messages to my daughters daily, and that is pretty cool.
As for "tweeting" I got it, but I am not sure what it does for me. LinkedIn, yup I am Linked. I have two Blogs - which I am just getting my arms around, I know about Wordpress and Wikis and enough about Web 2.0 to be dangerous but far from qualified.
But my point is that all this communication technology revolves around our personal lives and evolving norms of society and freedom. The "Rules" regarding my personal tastes, my music tastes, spiritual growth, clothes, media and relationships have always been in a state of growth and movement. Even being a senior male, I have succumbed to a female voice on my GPS telling me where to turn...and I am OK with that. Not sure why exactly, but I am.
But in the business environment we have standards. In the corporate world we have protocol, etiquette, dress codes, and unwritten rules that everybody understands. In our world we have order, organizational charts, employee manuals, and our own unique set of alphabet communication abbreviations, NASDAQ, CEO, CFO, ESPN and SATB, (Start At The Bottom...), not to mention, a defined chain of command.
And so I must ask, who are these kids to come in and disrupt the historical order of communication and protocol? Where do we draw the line between respect for others in a meeting and the new wave of multitasking? Is our protected stuffy business culture no longer sacred?
68% of Boomers agreed that Mobile Phones and PDAs contribute to a decline in workplace etiquette versus only 46% or less than half of the Gen Y Survey participants.
Need we say more?
"Come Back, Come Back," I say, to the old order. "Come Back," I say to the traditions that have made us great. "Come Back," to everyone in the office everyday, no more telecommutes. Return to the meaningless Monday Meetings that drag on forever. The message rings hollow, and perhaps it should.
With Gen X and Gen Y the lines separating personal freedoms and traditional work cultures are not just blurry they are gone. For Boomers work and life have always been combined, but defined by work ... of course. For Gen X and Gen Y work and life are also combined but defined by personal lives.
55% of Gen Y and 40% of Gen X surveyed, claim to use their computers with Social Network Sites at work, compared to 13% of Boomers. 41% of Gen Y surveyed suggested blogging about work related issues is acceptable. (28% for Boomers)
So what is a Leader to do? You cannot change it... You can implement guidelines, but only guidelines that make clear transparent sense for service, mission, and/or security. Your biggest challenge will be your Middle Managers and communicating with them, encouraging them to let go of existing paradigms and getting excited about the challenges of setting new standards for results.
You need to get your organization where the people are. That means considering a page for your organization on Facebook, Twitter and the like. Understand the Blogs and communication are going to exist and increase with you or without you. Get on the ride...and buckle up.
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Mike Muetzel is a nationally recognized Author, Keynote Speaker and Leadership expert. His work has been featured in the national media including, The Associated Press, Bloomberg Television, Boardroom Magazine, The Manager's Intelligence Report, The IBM Small Business Advocate, and The Boston Globe to name a few.
He is often referenced as a national expert on the unique characteristics of today's employees. He has an extensive corporate background including nine years with Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation where he sat on the Executive Committee. His prestigio
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