Four Generations at Work: How to Manage Generation Y
You belong to one of four generations of workers. Do you know how to work effectively with the other three generations in the workplace? Many workplace experts have noted that for the first time in history four generations - different in many respects - are present in today's workplace. The youngest of them is Generation Y Often called "Millennials". They come to the workplace armed with technology and communication tools to an unprecedented degree. How can you communicate and work effectively with these different generations? This is one of the hottest workplace issues in today's organization. We will offer articles covering the various aspects of this issue. Below are some of the ways to manage Generation Y.
Capitalize on their Social Orientation and team- preference. Millennials like to be in constant touch with others, as they have been the key users of Instant Messaging, and sites like MySpace, Facebook, and other social media. So you need to create work opportunities that involve them in teams and collaborative work.
Capitalize on their technology-orientation. Millennials are adept at using the internet and computer programs, conducting Internet research using Google, and communicating with their BlackBerry, cell phones, and whatever other tools that might appear on the market. Managing them effectively means that their boss will at least be familiar with these tools and preferably uses some of them.
Make use of their Multitasking. They also tend to be good at multitasking and can talk on the phone while checking e-mail and answering instant messages. Provide them with opportunities to do this to minimize their boredom on the one hand and increase productivity on the other.
Welcome their diversity. Millennials not just understand diversity but actually live it and practice it in a natural and almost automatic fashion. This is the generation that got excited about Barak Obama, an African American with a white mother, a Muslim black father from Kenya, who offered a vision of change and hope. Make sure your organization practices and values diversity and offers them a work culture that celebrates it in a natural way.
Give them interesting work. One of the key attributes of Gen Y is their need for constant stimulation. The worst task for them is the boring one. What makes work boring is when the person doesn't have a say in it. Give them opportunities to create themselves through their jobs. Give them as much freedom as possible and involve them in job design and decisions. Otherwise they might hop from one job to another searching for what stimulates them.
Listen to them. Millennials want to have their voices heard. They have grown used to provide comments on blogs and other social media. They expect to have opportunities to voice their opinion and not get punished for it if different or uncommon.
Conclusion: Millennials will increasingly become a larger segment of the workforce. With the right training and wise leadership, they can be great assets to the organization.
(c) HumaNext LLC - This content is taken from Diversity at Work training workshop by HumaNext. Visit our Diversity page: http://www.humanext.com/diversity.html
For a Genration Y training video program, see AWESOME! at this page.
Free Preview: For a no-cost online preview send your complete business information to: service@humanext.com
AWESOME! A New Generation Y Training Video Program- Two videos in one complete training package for $625 - Free Online Preview
Part 1 - A New Generation @ Work - Part 2 - Engaging Gen Y
Overview: What makes Generation Y different? What experiences have influenced their attitudes, values and work styles? What do they need to be successful at work? How can organizations engage and inspire them to maximize their impact and productivity? These questions are becoming increasingly important as the largest generation in history begins entering the workforce.
In the next few years, Gen Y will constitute 38% of all employees. They are smart, adaptable, energetic, skilled and eager to make their mark. At the same time, these young people do things differently and enter the world of employment with great expectations and a culture that may be unfamiliar to many of us.
Program Contents: To help you better prepare for the task of engaging, inspiring and productively channeling the energies of your new employees, we have created AWESOME!, a 2-part video-based training program. Part 1, "A New Generation @ Work" presents 24 Gen Y employees from a wide range of occupations who share what makes them tick. Part 2, "Engaging Gen Y" introduces 5 managers who present their views on how to help Millennials succeed. You'll be enlightened, energized and entertained!
Support Materials: A comprehensive facilitation package accompanies the program and includes a facilitator's guide, PowerPoint slides, reproducible handouts and program transcripts. Purchase now at $625
Or Rent for $295
Free Preview:
For a no-cost online preview send your complete business information to: service@humanext.com
The Most Misunderstood Generation. This Video Offers Help
Generation Y (also known as Gen Y, Millennials, the Internet Generation) is fresh, energized and smart - in short, they're awesome. Appropriately, that's also the title of this new training program. "AWESOME!" is one program in 2 parts.
Part 1, A New Generation @ Work, presents 24 Gen Y employees from all employment sectors (finance, government, education, technology, manufacturing, service, hospitality, etc.) providing insights into who they are, how they think, and what they need to succeed.
Part 2, Engaging Gen Y, presents the perspective of current managers and business owners. Taken together, these two 10-minute videos provide a complete training that is enlightening, energizing and entertaining.
This is a very timely new training program. Gen Y began entering the workforce just a few years ago but will constitute 38% of all employees by the year 2011. By some measures they are the largest generation in history and their impact on all areas of the economy will be enormous. At the same time, this generation is culturally different and often misunderstood "AWESOME!" helps organizations bridge these differences and maximize the effectiveness and productivity of their younger employees.
The program comes with a comprehensive facilitation package including a training guide, reproducible handouts and PowerPoint slides. It is available on DVD or online for Streamed Learning. It is currently only available in English, but other language versions will be developed in the future.
The price for the complete package on DVD is $625 with discounts for more than 1 copy. Streamed Learning for BOTH 10-minute videos is $6 per-person trained; $5 per-person for more than 1000 trainees.
Free Preview: For a no-cost online preview send your complete business information to: service@humanext.com
What Distinguishes the
The AWESOME! program should be of interest to any public or private sector organization that has employees in their 20s or younger. The training will be directed at managers, supervisors and older colleagues of these young employees.
What distinguishes "AWESOME!"?
It offers a unique, entertaining and insightful view of Generation Y both from their own perspective (Part 1) and the perspective of older managers (Part 2).
Compact training - each part of the program is only 10 minutes long.
It offers an 8 point "Path to Success" to help organizations ensure their younger employees are productive and successful.
Great Value: At US$625 per unit price and great volume discounts, this is a great value! You get both parts of the program for this affordable price.
Great support materials. The facilitation guide is comprehensive. The program also comes with PowerPoint slides and reproducible handouts.
Streamed Learning. The program can be delivered as a "Streamed Learning" option. Includes post-test, complete LMS reporting, SCORM compliant version, delivered from our server or yours.
Free Preview: For a no-cost online preview send your complete business information to: service@humanext.com
Connecting Generations Boardgame!
Stands on its own or complements the Generations in the Workplace video program, see next item.
This innovative boardgame helps adults better understand today's 4 generations and apply that understanding to work and family situations. This fun, new, interactive game delivers ready-to-use skills that maximize the effectiveness of the multi-generational workforce. In just one hour of playing time, participants absorb concentrated learning based on discussion that involves everyone with each roll of the dice. They learn...
what the defining events were for each of the four generations.
how those events shaped the characteristics of each generation.
how to be more effective in work and family situations by using generational profiles.
Connecting Generations boardgame is played with 3 decks of cards:
Events Cards
Characteristics Cards
Situations Cards
Make your way around the gameboard by answering the questions correctly!
Each boardgame is played by four players. Price is $219.00
See also the "Generations in the Workplace" video that can complement this board game by the same authors.
Generations in the Workplace Video Program: Managing the Clash of Veterans, Boomers, Xers, and Nexters
The video - with Claire Raines and Jim Hunt- introduces the four generations and the events that helped shape them - and provides viewers with solutions and practical tools that narrow the generation gap.
The 4-Generation Workplace is Here to Stay... The new multi-generation workplace is a complex and dynamic organism that requires flexibility and skill from everyone, especially from managers. People of all ages can work side-by-side and draw from the rich mixture of skill and experience. This video shows how it can be done.
Set in a business meeting, the video introduces the four generations and the events that helped shape their work patterns. Generations in the Workplace provides viewers with solutions and practical tools to break down barriers and work more effectively with members of all generations.
Price for purchase of video or DVD (30 minutes )and reproducible Leader's Guide: $495
See also the "Connecting Generations" board game that can complement your video program by the same authors.
The Generational Style Assessment
Chances are, you’ve struggled with someone older—or younger—who just doesn’t see things your way. This assessment will help you understand the differences between the generations and identify ways to “flex” your own behavior to better work with or manage people of all ages.
The model is based on four particular stages or phases of an individual’s work life:
20s—Gen Y or Nexter Generation
30s—X Generation
40s—Baby Boomers
50s—Builder Generation
Developed by Dr. Jon Warner & Anne Sandberg, the Generational Style Assessment asks you to read a range of different workplace scenarios and then choose the answer that best describes what you would do in a given circumstance.
Sample scenarios:
A newly hired individual in his 40s is already getting good work results but not without irritating a few team members.
A valuable employee in her 50s is taking a great deal of time off to deal with a terminally ill parent.
A newly promoted female in her 30s is having trouble managing older male colleagues and the situation is affecting her work.
A woman in her 20s has suggested a night out for coworkers and has made reservations for a karaoke bar without asking anyone else.
Your scores on the response sheet bring together the style you adopt most frequently when talking to people of other age groups, your backup style, and how flexible you are. The assessment explains the four styles in detail and which style is most appropriate for each of the four age groups:
Building style
Steering style
Empowering style
Supporting style
Use this tool to bring age-related issues out in the open and discuss how to improve productivity, job satisfaction, management styles, and personal motivation.
Facilitator's Guide includes one assessment $59.95
Generaltional Style Assessments (Pack of 5) $49.75
