subject: Managing Generations: 5 Traps Any Boss Falls Into With The Y Generation [print this page] It would be great if all business owners and managers understood differences in generations and the varying expectations each one brings into the workplace today before they hire their next employee.
It would be even better if they realized that Generation Y (Gen Y) has generational differences that are predicted to "rock the boat" more than any other generation has before, even the young Baby Boomers when they moved into the Traditionalists' workplace. Many company leaders end up paying lots of turnover costs and learning tough lessons the hard way.
Here are 5 traps that many bosses fall into when they hire a Gen Y employee.
Trap 1.Trying to be friends. Keep the job professional and keep personal talk at a minimum. What the Y Generation employee wants most is success at the job. What she needs most is to know what to do, how to do it, and how to avoid failure.
Trap 2. Expecting other employees to teach the new employee what to do. As the manager, you must make sure every new hire has a job description and clearly knows what tasks are her responsibility, how those tasks contribute to the organization's mission, and a good feel for company culture and its purpose.
Trap 3. Trying to be fair by treating every employee the same. Gen Y have different skills and expectations from your regular employees and they are accustomed to negotiating for what they want. So, don't be surprised the first time she asks for a favor. Use negotiating to get what you want.
Trap 4. Leaving your new hire alone for a couple of weeks to get the hang of things. You will want to get them started on a task or project immediately. They don't like to "get familiar" with the environment before they make a contribution which can be a very good thing.
Trap 5. Making the excuse that there is not enough time as is to be spending it with employees. Employees are important and you can have an office full of good ones. "Giving them space" and autonomy is not a good reason to leave them alone. They want your interaction and you can learn to give it well and efficiently. Spend it now or spend it later. You will not be sorry.
And, if you get to know Gen Y well, you will know where the world of business is headed.
Bottom line, if you as manager know about generational differences in the workplace you can be a better manager and save some money for the company.
