Much of my mind lately has been located on further study to just why are companies having such a challenge with Gen Y? Of course they (Y'ers) are very complex but so were your ancestors and the ones that came after them all the way to your very own self. Face it - Humans can be frustratingly complex a good bit of the time. Yes, the complexities per generation may vary, but they'll always be present as time moves on.
True Leadership principles do span generations as quite a constant in terms of what rallies people to improving an outcome within their organization. Integrity, Trust, Transparency, vision, Encouragement and passion to improve the life of people, business and society - these were true all the way from Rockefeller to Chuck Wall. These leaders have been insanely successful due to True Leadership! How many times have you heard someone teach leadership and you walk away thinking - "That's the same as it's always been, just maybe packaged a little differently." You see - the complexities of leadership do not necessarily change per generation, however the recent era has somehow dropped the ball in many areas.
As "this" generation has grown up they have heard mom/dad, a teacher, a friend, or other close relatives gripe about the grind at work. They have seen a Presidential scandal that communicated integrity and honesty were not that important. They have been exposed to corporate greed and pillaging of finances through illegalities or even debt to the eyeballs. Most of all - 6 years ago on 9/11/01 they received a very real and heartbreaking message that "life is precious" and being unhappy anywhere is so not worth it.
It's not their age that is the problem - it too much lack of Leadership in the Era. Think about the companies who have boomed during this era: Starbucks, Chick-Fil-A, In-N-Out Burger, Southwest Airlines, Freight Handlers Inc., Nucor Steel...These companies are emotional all stars and developmental incubators to their workforce. They create excellent experiences for their associates and their customers. They are committed to developing the human nature of their business and they have true Leaders who are doing things the same way your Grandparents did it. They all do have one area in common that you cannot pass by: their workforce is multi-generational of course, but packed with the "Y" Generation that is apparently so hard to figure out and lead?
The companies I have mentioned above: Oh yeah - here is what they do: Serve Coffee (Grande Latte please), Cook Chicken (I'll take a combo #1), Flip Burgers (Amazing ones at that), Fly airplanes(a good bit of customers who might be scared to visit you), Unload Freight (the best), manufacture Steel. Such luxurious jobs eh? Not so much, but largely a group of companies that have leveraged Leadership and not allowed an Era to be the Error.
What are you doing on a consistent basis to be sure that True Leadership is present at all levels in your group? I'd be jazzed to help you....
This raving is for you to chew on with your teams and be sure you're on the front lines of a gorgeous new era!
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