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SFHS Academy Brief
January
2010
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Welcome to St.
Francis Health Service’s Supervision I alumni
newsletter.
Understanding
Gen-Y Employees
Today’s
workplace spans four generations grouped by
world-shaping events, popular culture, childhood heroes,
and the same early work experiences. As a college
educator interacting closely with “Gen-Y” students (born
1977-1994), the author of this article has observed some
notable trends.
If you manage or work with this age group, it’s
helpful to know what has shaped their attitudes and
beliefs so that you can communicate with them more
effectively.
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Technology: Gen-Y
employees are superior multi-taskers, and the Internet
has given them a global vision of business. You can benefit
from their knowledge by encouraging them to educate you
on the latest trends. On the downside,
relying on technology has decreased skills in
interpersonal communication and conflict
resolution.
You will need to establish etiquette guidelines
for appropriate use of e-mail, cell phones, texting,
iPods, and face-to-face communication. Consider that
many are bloggers with MySpace accounts. Communicate
clear policies about what workplace information can and
cannot be shared.
Complete an online search on potential
hires. You
might be surprised what it turns up! (One site I go
to is www.minnesotaworks.net – LN.)
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Parental Involvement: They
are close to their parents and talk to them daily. The term
“helicopter parent” evolved from the tendencies of these
parents to become over-involved in every aspect of a
child’s life.
Be prepared for these employees to delay a
decision until they consult with their parents or for a
parent to intervene. You will need to
set clear boundaries about dealing with an employee and
not the parent.
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High Achievers: Their
resumes include impressive academic achievements and
civic participation. Many of these
achievements came by way of an overscheduled childhood
where parents shuffled kids from soccer to piano
lessons.
This generation had little downtime and as a
result, rarely made their own decisions. Therefore, they
will wait for managers to give directions. This does not
mean they are lazy or lack motivation. Expect to spend
more time coaching and
training.
Age diversity
impacts hiring and retention, work policies, training
methods, teams, and leadership
strategies.
Source: Susan
Fee, Professional Counselor and Coach. (April 2006 -
Manager’s Tip Sheet).
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| Quote of the day:
“A coach sees things
very differently than the players. It’s important to use
that different perspective to educate and encourage. But it’s also
important, like a good coach, to lead your team by
example. For
instance, while you should point out mistakes by your
employees, be sure to admit when you yourself make a
mistake.”
-
Rob Sheehan |
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St.
Francis Health Services
801
Nevada Ave. Suite 100 • Morris, MN 56267
Phone:
320-589-4903 • Fax: 320-589-1270
www.sfhs.org | Happy New Year from: Leah
Nelson | | |