8 Practical Tips for Gen Y Success (part 1)
A few years ago I was speaking at a conference on how to successfully manage Generation Y, and I made this statement: “Gen Y’s want the same things that other generations want: respect, praise and recognition when appropriate, promotions, appreciation, balance, working with top leaders, opportunities to be mentored, consistent and specific feedback, challenging work, training, work perks and a great working environment. The only difference is that they are not afraid to ask for these things.
Lately I’ve been doing more talks to Gen Y’s and their managers about what they need to be successful during this current economic downturn. Here are the first 4 of my top tips:
- Talk It Out – Don’t Just Quit!
When personal conflicts occur, people keep their frustrations to themselves or worse, start backstabbing at work. This creates a toxic office culture and solves nothing! Be courageous and if you’re frustrated with your boss or fellow employees, have the guts to speak to them directly. Listen to how they perceive the situation, and try coming up with solutions. Personal conflicts will happen at all jobs, and often the bigger problem is the manner in which it’s handled rather than the conflict itself. Quitting is simply the easy way out – not the best way! - Ask – Don’t Demand
When people demand (even in the nicest tone) it often comes across with an attitude of entitlement and can really rub people the wrong way. Instead of saying ‘I need to have Friday off to go to a doctor’s appointment” try saying “I need to schedule a doctor’s appointment – is it ok if I can take some time off on Friday?” Making requests in the form of a question will come across as being much more respectful to older generations. - Find a Mentor
I’m convinced that one of the best strategies to not only make ourselves more employable and learn great skills but also to deal with generational gaps is mentoring! Gen X, Boomer & Traditionalist managers have been around longer, they have an incredible amount of wisdom and experience to share with Gen Y’s but here’s the trick – Gen Y’s have to take the initiative! Gen Y’s need to take the lead, and you’ll be surprised how many managers are thrilled that someone is asking them for their advice! - Ask & Manage Expectations for Feedback
If you need more feedback (which I often hear from Gen Y’s) tell your boss. Ask how often you should expect feedback to help manage your own expectation. One Gen Y I coached told her boss “I really want to do a great job for you. So the more I know how I’m doing the better I will be able to meet your expectations. What is a realistic expectation I should have in terms of feedback? Monthly? Quarterly? Annually?”
Stay tuned tomorrow for my next 4 tips.
Tip #4 is great. As a Gen Y new to the working world, frequent feedback helps eliminate that 'lost' feeling. “I really want to do a great job for you…” is a great way to phrase the question and break the 'feedback ice'. Your manager will appreciate you taking the initiative to improve.