Three Ways to Motivate Gen Y
The pulse of business in America is throbbing. People are concerned about the financial crisis, economy and upcoming elections. Despite this uncertainty, organizational attrition rates are high, up to 20% for some large firms. So what can leaders do to not only retain Gen Y employees, but get the most out of them during these […]
How to Create Presentations That Engage Every Age
Want to keep each generation engaged during a presentation? Here are some quick tips: Generation Y “Edu-tainment” and media-rich Short, with 10 minute bite-size pieces Smaller metacognitive tasks Give images with few words Provide hyperlink resources Generation X Individual reflective learning style Provide rich array of resources, on-line and off-line Activities must be quick, relevant […]
Generational Stereotypes
We hear generational stereotypes all the time. How many times have you heard: Why do Boomers have to print every email? Don’t they know they’re killing trees? Why does Gen Y have to be online all the time? Can’t they have a face-to-face conversation? Why does Gen X have to find the flaw in every […]
Generational Social Media
Want to know how to reach each generation online? Baby Boomers are less price sensitive and tend to purchase for need. They place a value on product/service experience. Yet, to date, there is a lack of relevant content that mirrors their need for understanding features and benefits. They are a growing presence online, especially in […]
Creating Courses That Engage Gen Y
Gen Y is a tough act to teach. They grew up surrounded by media and marketing; they can download anything, at any time. So how do you keep them engaged when delivering a webinar or other types of distance courses? Here are some tips to keep it mind: – Keep it short – Use media-rich […]
Managing Up Through the Generations
Someone recently asked me, “What happens when a Gen Y employee is promoted to a managerial level and starts working with Gen X colleagues? Do they become more X-ish? Or stay as a Gen Y?” Here’s my answer: Every individual has deeply ingrained generational and personal values. Gen X generally values independence, pragmatism, focus, metrics/results […]
What Motivates Gen Y?
I recently spoke about managing generational differences at a leadership conference. After my talk, a Boomer asked me “How do I motivate my Gen Y son? He has so much potential, yet seems to want to do so little with his life.” This is a common question from both parents and employers; it’s clearly a […]
What’s Up with Gen Y’s “Lack of Commitment”?
Someone recently asked me about Gen Y’s lack of commitment, saying “They’re not as dedicated at work as the rest of us”. My answer: It’s all a matter of perspective. Let’s take the case of Marie and Alicia. Marie, 45, has been a senior-level manager at the Generate Health Food Store for over 5 years. […]
Gen Y: Making Sense of Cents
I was recently asked “Why don’t young people don’t count out exact change?” Answer: because money is not important to the Millennials. There are other things that are more important to them, such as balance, experiences and meaningful work. The Bookend Generation study shows that they are looking for “remixed rewards”. According to the Financial […]
Leadership Challenges, Part Four
Someone recently asked me, “What are the common interpersonal and generational errors that leaders should avoid when managing a team?”. That is a huge question. However, after some thinking, I came up with four challenges that a new leader often faces: 1. Understanding how cultural differences impact a team 2. Using the Golden Rule 3. […]
