slackers - us not them
DESCRIPTION
The Truth about Gen Y (and Y we should change)TRANSCRIPT
SLACKERS: US, NOT THEM.
Motivating the Millennial Generation
Rules …if we must Open discussion The goal is consideration, not conversion.
But you should convert If you think I’m full of it, say so.
but be prepared – because I am really not. We are talking about wild generalizations
and assumptions What is true for most is not necessarily true
for all And even less likely to be true for US
Hard Is SoftSoft Is Hard
Oh…One last rule:
Note: This means that if any of you Baldridge types say “Show me the data” I’m gonna barf, dude.
Question number 1:
Is there a problem?
Question number 2:
What is it?
THE PROBLEM IS RARELY(NEVER) THE
PROBLEM. THE RESPONSE TO THE
PROBLEM INVARIABLY ENDS UP BEING THE
REAL PROBLEM.
- Tom Peters
By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong.
Charles Wadsworth
The problem is NOT the way they are. The problem is the difference between the way they are and the way we THINK they should be.
~ Me.
Reality Check
Raise your hand if you remember hearing this phrase as a 18 to 25 year-old:
“You kids today are just so darned respectful.”
A Pause for the Pragmatic
They aren’t going anywhere.
They aren’t going to radically change.
We CANT do without them.
Only one thing left to do:
The answer is to understand them and leverage their strengths to support the mission.
Ben Casnocha
Understanding them tip #1 - Read what they write….
He’s Twenty: He’s written his first bookIs yours done yet?
(Duh!)
Who Are the Millenials
Thielfoldt and Scheef say between 1977and 1998 Claire Raines says between 1980 and 2000 Other “Experts” cite other dates (9 to 22 years) Mario says – Anyone who doesn't remember (or has a
really hard time remembering) not having access to a computer.
Claire Raines - from Connecting Generations
Thielfoldt and Scheef
My Favorite Millennial
• Anna Vittone, 22
• Always had a keyboard in her bedroom.
• Has NEVER written a check
• Spoke to a bank teller ONCE
• Fluent in Japanese
• Bachelors is CS – Minor in Fisheries??
• Has “best friends” on three continents
• Makes more money than her Daddy
So lets just say for our purposes, that a Millennial is a new hire in their first four to eight years on the job...or on their way towards accession.
Slacker?
Shaped by their Times
Warning: This next part may (should) change your mind about them entirely.
Social Intelligence
Experiences - particularly negative, painful, shocking, or otherwise disturbing - set-up a series of filters in a child's mind through which they view the world.
~ Daniel Goleman -
Seaman Christian Thomas, Seaman Jose Torres, Petty Officer 3rd Class Shawn Smith, Seaman Benjamin Cunningham, and Seaman Stephen Starnes
Were 10 – 14 when they heard and saw this:
Maslow
FN Sasha Baker spent the twelfth year of her life thinking mostly about THIS:
Source: Feeling Safe: Talking to Children About War and Terrorism:
Is there any chance that this event shaped, at least in part, how she views the world?
Did these images shift their view of heroism, patriotism, and who to respect?
Role Models Anyone
What they learned from that?
There is NO reason to respect someone (really) based solely on their rank – age – or experience. They still might be a selfish , lying, crook.
Selfish = Bad Selfless = Good
Claire Raines 8
Focus on Children and Family
Scheduled Structured Lives
Multiculturalism
Terrorism Heroism Patriotism Parent
Advocacy Globalism
Eight key trends of the 90s and 00s have had a profound effect on Gen Y personality.
Source: Connecting Generations – Clare Raines
Compelling Messages
Be Smart - You are special Leave no one behind Connect 24/7 Achieve Now Serve your community
Characteristics
Confident. Hopeful. Goal- and achievement-oriented. Civic-minded. Inclusive
Millennials at Work
Liabilities Assetts
distaste for menial work
lack of skills for dealing with difficult people
impatience lack of experience confidence
multitasking goal orientation positive attitude technical savvy collaboration
Source: Claire Raines
So What do We Do?
More Why? - Less Because.
Leadership – not leadership training
Mentors are Seekers Meet their technology
expectations LEVERAGE their skill
And let them know it.
First: Understand why they are they way they are.
Second: Accept responsibility.
ASTC Mario Vittone
ATTC Elizabeth City
252-334-5355
Thanks for listening