In Praise of Gen Y

Having read Tim's last post, I was chatting to a client recently and we were reflecting on how amazing some of our Gen Y colleagues and friends are. We both confessed to feeling a little envious at times. A touch of the "I wish I had been that confident, capable, wordly... at their age."

I reckon these feelings are pretty common. Here is a generation who see fewer barriers in their lives, they tend to have more confidence in themselves and what is possible and they have much broader horizons on the world because of the internet and the fact they connect so easily with people around the world.

I think it is understandable if the older generation occasionally feel a little envious, jealous, resentful even. I often hear comments like "I had to work my way up the ladder, why do they think they shouldn't have to", "they are far too confident - verging on the arrogant", "they just expect things too easy."

I sometimes detect a mixture of resentment and a desire to put Gen Y in their place. Yet on the other hand there is a realisation that their talent and confidence are marvellous assets that present a huge opportunity for employers.

I think the healthy and productive attitude is to accept the negative feelings as understandable, but to move on and look at the assets that all the generations bring to the workplace.

The key is for each generation understood the others more: their intentions, passions and strengths. It's not for Gen Yers to 'stay in their place'; it's for them to challenge the status quo, come up with new ideas, question old assumptions.

It's uncomfortable for us Xers and Boomers but great leadership is about allowing and encouraging that whilst mentoring and guiding when necessary.

Note to self: remember that when next talking to amazing, accomplished and inspirational 23 year-old.

Simon Walker
Co- founder
Talent Smoothie

A co-founder of Talent Smoothie, Simon Walker is one of the UK's leading authorities on Generation Y and how to better understand and lead them. Simon will be giving two presentations at the FIA Conference on July 14th at Cheltenham Racecourse.

To find out more about the conference and to book your place with an Early Bird discount visit the FIA website or email flame@fia.org.uk.

How Dare They?

I'll have to be honest and say that I am one of those boomers who doesn't respond overly well to having my work questioned by a twenty something who's only been in the industry five minutes.

Okay that's probably because, more often than not, they are right, dammit. And I wish I'd had the balls, naivety - call it what you want - to ask those kind of questions when I was their age, but nevertheless.

That's not to say that there aren't some spoilt little so-and-so's out there who've never had to work for a thing in their lives - and don't see why they should start now - but 'twas ever thus.

By its very nature this is a young and energetic industry and, not withstanding the fact that the wages at entry level are pretty shocking, we are likely to continue to attract young people into it.

So, rather than launching into our grumpy old men routines, it is up to those of us who are allegedly older and wiser to learn what turns "Gen Why" - and all the other gens - on, and flex our management styles accordingly.

In other words they're here to stay, so get over it and get on with it.

Here are a few tips: Apparently Gen Y wants constant feedback, openness and transparency - so tell it how it is. They want to be trusted, given responsibility and allowed to fail without fear. They want flexibility around their working conditions and they want to be judged on outcomes not processes - give me a job and some boundaries and then let me get on with it.

Sounds fair enough to me. I'm off to update my Facebook site.

Tim Webster
Consultant
Fitness Professionals

More from one of the UK's leading authorities on Generation Y, Simon Walker, in the next week's post.

To find out more about the conference and to book your place with an Early Bird discount visit the FIA website or email flame@fia.org.uk.