As members of Generation Y (or “The Millennials”) start taking over office spaces, older managers may have trouble relating to the work styles of their young employees. If you count yourself as one of those confused by Generation Y, it may be helpful to try catering to their working style, rather than forcing them to blend in with yours.
The first thing to know about Gen Y is that they like their freedom. Raised in the era of MTV and the internet, the phrase “the world is at your fingertips” applies to them in a very literal sense. Gen Y’ers are used to pulling together information from a huge variety of sources, rather than following a set procedure for information gathering. To tap in to this strength in a workplace setting, try reducing the amount of control you exert over the process and instead focus on the end result. Gen Y’ers can be astoundingly innovative when given the chance, so give them the freedom to do so in an office setting and you may be impressed with the result.
Secondly, it’s safe to assume that people who grew up surrounded by computers and cell phones know and love their technology. Many Gen Y’ers become frustrated with traditional office procedures that they’re used to doing with technology. Instead of suppressing this frustration, give them the chance to come up with more streamlined, technology-based alternatives. If they work out, you might end up saving the company a bundle of money and time. If not, it’s just motivation to find another way to do things. As many market-prediction firms say, technology-based business is the future. So why not let Gen Y get started?
Photo © Jane Doe – Fotolia.com