Set and expect high ethical standards. (8 of 9 in series)
The 2013 Edelman Trust Barometer found that only 17.5% of people around the globe trust their business and government leaders. The sad truth is that Gen Y expects ethical mishaps from many of their leaders and they’re probably personally influenced by grimy college experiences and superficial reality television shows. There is great opportunity for improvement, and Gen Y wants it.
Provide the newest technology. (7 of 9 in series)
The lives of Gen Y mark the dawn of post-humanism. Gadgets are like an extension of a millennial, allowing them to work better and faster. And, they’ve projected and marketed avatars of themselves through social media for a decade. They become quickly frustrated using techniques and tools that are outdated, because they know better technology will allow them to work smarter, not harder, and get better results. Provide the latest technology that makes sense, provide opportunities to sell you on the value of other technology, and seriously consider the impact. You might be surprised at how many resources they’re aware of, and how they can help.
We’ve endured and even enjoyed one frigid winter in Minnesota this year. From –55 F windchill to plenty of snow, I’ve found the best way to survive the winter is to embrace it. Our family loves to skate, ski, snowmobile, and sled. Take a look a Isaiah’s new jump.
It is easy to stay inside and complain about the weather. I takes work to put on snow clothes and get outside. But, when you do, you feel better every time. It is easy to complain about not getting a good nights sleep. It takes work to go to bed on time, stop drinking caffeine, or shut off the TV. It is easy to complain, but it takes work to do what you can do about the situation.
For many things about which we complain, the worst part is taking the first step. Next time you want to complain, ask yourself, “What one step could I take to do something about that?”
Now get out and enjoy the weather.
Give flexibility instead of a strict 9-to-6 Monday through Friday schedule. (6 of 9 in series)
According to a recent Fox Small Business report, 85% of Americans say that their stress is a serious health issue. American millennials desperately want to find a healthy balance. They’re victims to some of the world’s worst divorce rates, and they don’t want their children to experience the same hardships. Part of their strong desire for meaning is fulfilled through flexibility that allows them to scamper away from the office for their daughter’s early Monday afternoon piano recital, to have lunch with their family on Wednesday, and to hit the gym on Thursday morning. The lines between work and home are blurred for Gen Y. They’re happy to make up time over the weekend and interested to work from their home office using Skype and Google Docs. Bring happiness to your millennials through flexibility and accountability, and you’ll gain deeper commitment, and, in turn, better results.
Situate them in workspaces conducive to collaboration. (5 of 9 in series)
Millennials are also known as “generation we” because of their strong social mindset. Despite growing up in the most individualistic nation in history, American millennials think and act quite socially. They know that better results and meaning come through collaboration. They’re used to the flat connected world and used to working with people from varying cultures. Gen Y knows that strategizing and executing with 3 or 8 or 21 varying perspectives leads to high caliber and balanced results. Consider setting up your office in a way that’s more conducive to collaboration and get increased productivity by letting millennials work and compete on teams.
Avoid managing like a helicopter boss. (4 of 9 in series)
Gen Y’s distaste for institutions makes them a different experience to manage. Their objectives for meaningfulness and fulfillment make them best-off to manage with a coaching tilt. They find fulfillment and meaning in their own personal development, and managers can function as catalysts in the process. They need their managers to give deadlines and hold them accountable to deliverables, but they respond best to managers who come alongside of them, remove barriers, and give constant feedback. Millennials want this type of customized constant feedback from their leaders because it’s what they’re used to. They were told they were special as kids and received trophies even for 9th and 10th place, they’re accustomed to Amazon and Pandora learning and catering to their interests, and they like it when their text messages and Facebook statuses receive instantaneous responses. They desire their leaders to give customized honest coaching that helps them develop personally and get better professional results. Stay away from fear tactics, hovering over shoulders, and invading space. Find customized positive methods to assure results, and you’ll gain sustainable shared success.
Assign work and give lots of vision, and less exact step-by-step procedures. (3 of 9 in series)
Gen Y gets become less engaged when given a roadmaps with exact steps. They have a penchant for problem solving and want challenges to face. Millennials are the first generation to grow up with the internet. They’ve spent their entire lives learning and trying multiple methods for accomplishing end goals. Scouring YouTube how-to videos, About.com explanations, experts’ websites, Yahoo! conversation boards, etc. are standard protocol for figuring out how to do something. Their minds are like databases of ideas, and they want to apply them through trial and error. If their leaders teach top suggested methods, give them responsibility, and trust them to deliver results on deadlines, they are likely to innovate more efficient methods and get high quality results.
Explain the “why” when delegating projects. (2 of 9 in series)
Gen Y works best when leaders clearly explain how their work helps to expand the greater mission and purpose. They are the most educated generation in world history, so they’re conditioned to asking and understanding “why this” and “why that”. Influenced by their parents, who were impacted by the Hippie movement’s backlash against top-down dictation, Gen Y isn’t used to command and control styles of leadership. They are skeptical and used to being sold to. When their leaders dig into “why”, they buy-in passionately. They want to feel the value and importance for their actions. And, they want to understand how systems work so they can work efficiently and improve them. Dig to “why” with millennials, and you’ll gain more buy-in, improved systems, and better results.
“Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.”
Nelson Mandela sacrificed 27 years of his life in prison for the people of South Africa. Mandela was committed, loyal and passionate about his mission. Nothing could replace his burning desire to see an anti-apartheid South Africa disbanded.
He sacrificed his life for a cause that would make an impact beyond himself. As the world mourns his death, it is also an opportunity to celebrate a life well lived and learn from a man who exemplified commitment and compassion.
What are you doing here and now that is having a lasting, positive impact in your family, business and community?
What a treat to enjoy Thanksgiving at the farm with family! Pond hockey, broom ball, games, pecan and pumpkin pie (I much prefer pie over cake any day), fellowship, gratefulness, and even some time cutting wood for the stove. It is so good to work together and play together. Most of my five siblings and the seventeen grandchildren were able to gather and stay at the farm (all but my sister’s family, who live in Kenya and teach at a university there). Dad is 84 years old now and Mom is close behind. They are an example of intentional leadership.
On Saturday, Dad invited all of the farm families that rent land from him over to the house for food, fellowship and a “program”. The “program” was intentional. He built our well over a thousand acre farm from nothing, buying his first 80 acres while in college just after serving in the Korean War. Why did he bring together family and renters and have a “program”? To introduce his kids to the renters, to encourage open communication, to transfer leadership, and to provide a peaceful thoughtful process for when he is not around anymore. Dad is still in great health, but he is wise. His wisdom to give a clear plan for succession planning will take a whole lot of stress out or our future. Each of the kids have clear responsibilities and roles. It was significant that in front of everyone he gave leadership to his fifth child, the brother just older than me to be the point person for farm operations. While we know Dad loves all of us, Loren is the best person for that job. This public declaration of who the farm point person is gave clarity and empowered Loren to take that role even though he is not the oldest child, which may be a more traditional approach for that responsibility.
Two leadership lessons: First, think ahead and act ahead. Secondly, while it is true that empowerment occurs when a person is given the resources needed for a given task, it is equally important to empower leaders by publicly giving them the leadership role necessary to take on responsibility and have others quickly follow. This is a form of “Transfer Trust” – Since people trust you as leader, and you trust a given person to lead, when you publicly give the leadership role, others will more quickly follow that individual so that you are no longer needed in that role.
