Why it’s time to get savvy ?
It’s time to get savvy – Gen Y Savvy – or face the consequences is the management and leadership message of the moment.
Why?
Because over 20% of the global population are Gen Y and they have passion, innovation and creativity.
This is part of the reason why it’s time to get savvy.
Who Are Gen Y?
They are the next generation of leaders and managers and they are already knocking on the door of opportunity. Generation Yers aren’t kids anymore. At least some of them aren’t. The first Gen Yers were born in 1977. Today, the oldest of this generation are 40 years old and many are now over 28 years of age.
As will all generations they have been shaped by the events and circumstances that surround them in their formative years.
Like the Baby Boomer and Gen X, Gen Y base their life decisions (both personal and professional) on their values system developed in these early years. Hence, it’s time to get savvy.
Many Generation Yers are fast becoming the high potential leaders of your workplace. To understand them, we must first understand the times that shaped them.
What’s the key?
The key to managing Gen Y team members who are your future high potential leaders is to understand their values and what they want from their job including:
• Technology
• Being respected as an equal
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Clearly defined tasks and expectations
• Opportunities to be innovative and creative
• Exciting and challenging experiences
• To ask questions and challenge assumptions
• To be engaged quickly, kept busy and given ongoing, immediate feedback.
It’s time to get savvy, engage with them and they will not only stay but be a power-house of ideas and innovation within your organisation. Fail to understand them and they will go elsewhere. The message is clear – get Gen Y savvy and do it now so they can become your future leaders today!
Top 6 recruitment and retention strategies
These are some of the strategies that organisations are using to retain and development their Gen Y – future potential leaders and employees.
Dynamic Internal Career Paths
One-on-One Communication
Flexible Hours and Location
Employee Referral Bonuses
Community Service
Long Term Thinking
The most important tactic for businesses looking to retain Gen Y’s is to listen to them – it’s time to get savvy.
This outspoken generation will tell you what they want and if you meet their needs you will develop a dynamic and innovative organisation.
