| Some love them. Some hate them. This last generation | | | | lazy? Some of them might be. A better way to look at |
| to be wholly born in the 20th century grew up with the | | | | it is that a lack of productivity might be a lack of |
| internet, cell phones, music downloading and were the | | | | motivation....which rolls us into the next complaint... |
| first to latch on to Facebook and social media (heck, | | | | "Why should I...?" This question addresses the chief |
| they created it). | | | | motivation for Gen Y, or Generation Why. Whereas |
| With the first "editions" of Generation Y rolling off the | | | | other generations have been around the how or the |
| high school and college assembly lines and numbering | | | | what, this generation is all about the why. They can |
| more than 60 million in America, their impact (whether | | | | figure out the how and the what, but without the why, |
| good or bad) promises to be big. They think differently, | | | | they won't even get in the game. |
| dress differently and have a very different approach | | | | As the Why Generation, incentive is a key ingredient |
| and perspective when it comes to their careers and | | | | for motivating this millennial group. Hmmmm, |
| (as with any generation) employing Gen Y comes with | | | | incentive...what will incentify a group of "entitled, lazy, |
| its own unique challenges and opportunities. | | | | multi-tasking, why should I's"? Typical motivators are |
| "Unlike the generations that have gone before them, | | | | praise, recognition, finances, awards, and time. While |
| Gen Y has been pampered, nurtured and programmed | | | | the other motivators have their place and their |
| with a slew of activities since they were toddlers, | | | | purpose, the focus of this post is on time. |
| meaning they are both high-performance and | | | | Time is a HUGE motivator. There are only so many |
| high-maintenance", says Bruce Tulgan in an interview | | | | hours in a day to get done what you need to do and |
| with USA Today. As founder of Rainmaker Thinking, a | | | | what you want to do. Naturally, the need will come |
| company that studies the lives of young people, Bruce | | | | before the want. So, time to focus on the "want" is an |
| has had the opportunity to identify trends and | | | | excellent incentive for Generation Y and has already |
| strategies for managing Gen Y. So, let's take a look | | | | been implemented by companies around the country. |
| at what some managers are saying about Gen Y. | | | | Aflac is highlighting such perks as time off given as |
| "They're entitled." Of course, they are entitled! They | | | | awards, flexible work schedules and recognition. It |
| were raised by parents that told them they could do | | | | works because it gives an employee incentive to work |
| anything, nurtured in a school system where they were | | | | hard so that they can play hard. |
| told to expect everything, and alive in an age when | | | | However, this strategy shouldn't be rooted in "If you do |
| information was available at their fingertips. They got | | | | this, you get this." That will only create a situation |
| medals just for participating. The world has always | | | | where they're response will be, "If I do this, how much |
| been their oyster. | | | | time do I get off?" That isn't what you want. A great |
| "They're multi-taskers." Facebook. Twitter. IPhones. | | | | way to implement this strategy is to award the time |
| These are products and services born of a | | | | off or the flexibility as a surprise award. That way it is |
| multi-tasking generation. While early research has | | | | more of a bonus (like a slot machine). |
| shown that multi-tasking has negative effects on | | | | In sum, Gen Y has its challenges. Get over it. Use |
| productivity, the reasoning behind the actual | | | | strategies to make them your greatest asset. And |
| psychological need to multi-task has not necessarily | | | | remember, when you're motivating with incentive, think |
| been addressed. | | | | bonus not reward! |
| "They're lazy or not willing to work." Okay, let's sort out | | | | Resource: |
| this statement. First, they are multi-tasking. Now, they | | | | Please note that Generation Why is a term coined by |
| are lazy and not willing to work. A little mismatch? Yep. | | | | Eric Chester, a consultant for companies needing help |
| The blanket statement that an entire generation is any | | | | learning to manage and develop Gen Y while also |
| "you name it" label is a mistake. At any rate, is Gen Y | | | | bridging the generation gaps in their workforce. |