So its all about "me" for the most recent generation that is coming into the workforce. A whole generation with Helicopter parents, making reports of yourself instead of heros and astrunauts, facebooking texting tweeting everything about you, and raised with unrealistic expectations on hard work and accomplishment.Work Place Culture wrote:
Young employees entering the workforce approach it differently than those before; unsatisfied, demonstrate less loyalty, and put personal priorities above work.
No longer taking score at a game because it might make people feel bad. Getting meaningless A's on drivel. Lowering standards because someone might not pass and would feel bad about themselves.
Source: http://workplaceculture.suite101.com/ar … _workplaceWork Place Culture wrote:
So what do we do? We annoy the older generations in the workplace by our constant need for feedback (self-centered since the All About Me report that earned an A+), aspirations for the corner office (because we are special--Mr. Rogers says so) and an unrealistic idea of the work and time involved (because it happens in the space of two hours in Rudy). And we're not happy about any of it, because until this point we truly believed we were going to be the next Lance Armstrong. Why? Because you said so.
So what's the solution. How do you deal with Generation Me in the workplace?
Laziness: Realize that these GenMe's aren't lazy, they have priority that full fill them outside of the job they were hired to do. They view a job as a paycheck and not as a career. They view is as a mechanism that they use to full fill their aspirations to boat, ski, surf, exercise, etc.
Lack of loyalty: They will jump ship once their job gets in the way of their personal goals. You will see this by notcing a history of short-live jobs. Following up on their last jobs is a must because if you really found out the reason it probably because the job started cutting into their "Me" time instead of them being under performing.
Unrealistic Aspirations: Many of those green-nosed gimps will come out of college expecting to get a corner office and be partner of the firm in 5 years of "hard work". You'll have to sit them down and explain that that's not how it works and for them to be more realistic with their goals. Don't shoot them down a run on the ladder, but rather show them they can progress with real work over time if they prove themselves - make it clear they shouldn't expect promotions.
Constant need for feedback: Acknowledge their strengths and gently point out their weaknesses. This is something they probably aren't accustomed to since growing up with getting an `A for any effort`. You don't have to do this all the time, but its definitely something GenMe expects more often than previous generations so be cognizant of that.
All in all, your older employees will have issues with the newest generation. A rift will occur and you'll have manage it.
Good luck.
Source: http://www.livescience.com/culture/gene … 00310.html
