As part of a panel discussion for the Mid America CropLife Association I was asked to offer 3 ways to manage and 3 ways to retain Gen Y team members in the workplace. This presentation accompanied my portion of the discussion.
2. Managing Generation Y Be firm yet flexible. Embrace and leverage Gen Y’s passion for technology. Recognize your opportunity to function as a coach and mentor. www.mriowacity.com
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4. Generation Y went to college and constantly challenged their professors way of thinking.
5. Now they will challenge you, and you need to know that they are not challenging your intelligence, your ethics, or your ability. They eagerly want to understand without doubt and seek to offer their perspective.
6. Maintain your company vision and policies, but be open and approachable to new ideas.www.mriowacity.com
7. CHALLENGE IS A TWO-WAY STREET GEN Y WILL CHALLENGE THEIR MANAGERS TO GAIN BETTER UNDERSTANDING, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE CHALLENGED THEMSELVES. GEN Y THRIVES ON SPECIAL PROJECTS AND SEES CHALLENGE AS OPPORTUNITY. www.mriowacity.com
8. EMBRACE AND LEVERAGE GEN Y’S PASSION FOR TECHNOLOGY Years to Reach 50 million users: Radio 38 TV 13 Internet 4 iPod 3 Facebook added 100 million users in 9 months. iPhone application downloads reached 1 billion in 9 months. Sources: United Nations Cyberschoolbus Document , Mashable, & Apple. www.mriowacity.com
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10. It is a symbol of status, and so would a project based in technology.
12. RECOGNIZE YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO FUNCTION AS A COACH AND MENTOR RATHER THAN A “BOSS”. COACH MENTOR BOSS www.mriowacity.com
13. COACH AND MENTOR Gen Y craves a mentor, and will reject a micromanager. You must provide independence and frequent communication to maintain a safe balance. The most successful coaches and directors leave little or no doubt about what their expectations are. Gen Y’s love of technology means that they expect information to come to them almost instantly, and by that same rationale, so should feedback from you. www.mriowacity.com
14. Retaining Gen Y Team Members Starts with your hiring process. Create a culture of fun. Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. www.mriowacity.com
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16. Find the best way to utilize that talent while you have it.www.mriowacity.com
17. WHERE DID GEN Y LEARN THIS BEHAVIOR? www.mriowacity.com
21. What differentiates your company from others and how can you sell that to candidates?
22. How much value is there in “Where do you see yourself in five years?” Do your interview questions represent a high-energy company?
23. How soon is there follow up after a new employee starts?www.mriowacity.com
24. CREATE A CULTURE OF FUN DOES NOT MEAN EVERYONE IN FLIP FLOPS AND HAWAIIAN SHIRTS EVERY DAY. MIXES THINGS UP. ACTIVITIES REINFORCE THE TEAM CONCEPT THAT GEN Y CRAVES. www.mriowacity.com
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26. Team building exercises; golf outings, training seminars, cookouts.
27. Fun at work is proven to increase productivity, reduce stress, and enhance levels of customer satisfaction.
32. Recognize patterns in communication to take the temperature of a team member.
33. Generation Y sees voicemail as the equivalent to the typewriter or the rotary phone.www.mriowacity.com
34. Generation Y in the workplace MANAGING 1. Be firm yet flexible. 2. Embrace and leverage Gen Y’s passion for technology. 3. Recognize your role as a coach and/or mentor. RETAINING Retention starts with your hiring process. Create a culture of fun. Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. www.mriowacity.com
35. THANK YOU Jason Lehnst Management Recruiters of Iowa City – Lehnst & Associates www.mriowacity.com (319) 545-7110 www.mriowacity.com