E-Tips: Multi-Generational Solutions Archives

We will be debating for some time whether it's life-changing determination, a clear-eyed vision, naiveté, or the arrogance of youth: A significant number of Gen Yers are convinced they will dramatically change the world of work.

As a faithful reader and sometimes commenter on the Employee Evolution blog, I found myself following and making multiple comments on blog founder Ryan Healy's post in May, “10 Ways Generation Y Will Change the Workplace.” Well written with seemingly no doubt in his mind, Healy described the 10 workplace transformations to come from Gen Y/Millennials. They will:

1. Hold only productive meetings
2. Shorten the work day
3. Bring back the administrative assistants (to relieve Gen Y of minutia)
4. Redefine retirement (many short “retirements” along a career path)
5. Find real mentors
6. Restore respect to the HR Department
7. Promote based on emotional intelligence
8. Continue to value what our parents have to offer
9. Enjoy higher starting salaries
10. Re-invent the performance review

Each change was described in a paragraph. Some comments quickly came to my mind, particularly regarding the limited perspective. This is not surprising given Gen Y's short tenure in the workplace.

The post elicited a large response with comments from three generations. Below are the comments I posted.

A wonderful aspiration! You want to change the world just like the Baby Boomers - and they did. I encourage you and your generation to go for it.

At the same time, the road from today to your vision presents some substantial challenges, which are not about the older generations pushing back, but rather about business economics. A few tough questions are:

• How do you string the off- and on-ramping you talk about (referring to Healy's description of multiple mini-retirements during a long career span) into the continuing upward career trajectory you want?
• Who will do the routine work that Gen Yers reject? (There will always be some that can't be computerized, and some of it is necessary in order to learn enough to do the challenging, creative stuff.)
• In a bad economy, high salaries are much harder to get, especially when you could be competing with a large cohort of Gen Ys, so how can you be sure of high salaries when you start or move? Gen X has already been through the boom and bust. No generation is immune.

Having raised just a few wrinkles, I am rooting for your generation to actually achieve a lot of positive change. I'd like to experience those changes too.

Interestingly, Ryan Healy's blogging partner Ryan Paugh wrote (June 10, 2008) a personal counterpoint two weeks later where he described the changes in his thinking after one year out of the corporate cubicle bubble, “Standing at a Crossroad: Am I Still a Millennial?”

He says now he is:

• Not as idealistic – “ …let's face it, we haven't proven anything yet…and I'm pretty sure now that it's going to take a lot more work than I originally thought…a lot more than tech savvy for Gen Y to make change.”
• More skeptical - “…we're a lot of talk. And sometimes we believe in things without asking for proof.”
• Not as bold – “Today I think things through…My new motto: Stay cool…[so as not to] lose my leverage as a reputable voice.”
• More myself than I've ever been – “…it feels awesome. And at the same time, I wonder if I'm staying aligned with my generation. Do I need a reality check?”

I would say he is feeling the change that happens when the realities of life hit outside the cocoon of school, parents, and even a large employer with many perks. We face challenges and grow and learn that we are not so sure of what we absolutely know (to slightly paraphrase the King in “The King & I”)

My other posted comment, which actually applies to both of the Ryans' entries, is:

We all must be careful not to stereotype any generation or any “diversity” group It is also important to regularly remind ourselves that not everything is a generational issue or a generational attribute. Behaviors and values are formed by individual experience, personal style, the position you occupy in an organization and life cycle issues as well as generational influences. First and foremost the people in any generation are individuals: some better than others, more or less motivated, more or less tech savvy, more or less skilled at interpersonal relations, leaders or followers, etc.

We should be encouraging everyone to aspire to be the best they can be and not have a “we” vs. "them" attitude among the generations. Let's have more inter-generational dialogue!

Please share your thoughts.

Phyllis

© Phyllis Weiss Haserot, 2008. All rights reserved. 

Check out *Next Generation, Next Destination*, our blog about transitioning planning and the generations. Visit, comment and subscribe by RSS feed or e-mail. http://www.nextgeneration-nextdestination.com.

For coaching, training and special programs on inter-generational relations and maximizing the potential of young professionals, call Phyllis for an exploratory talk or complimentary coaching session at 212-593-1549 or e-mail at pwhaserot@pdcounsel.com

Phyllis is available to speak at your organization or at firm retreats on inter-generational relations and organizational effectiveness topics. Call or e-mail for a list of topics or to custom-tailor your own.