For the past few years I have been thinking a lot about my generation in the work place.
Well for starters, what is my generation? Generation "X" is considered to be those born in the 60s up to those born in the early 80s. Generation "Y" applies to those born in the late 80s up until the Millennium. I think the sample group I'm thinking about is generation "Y" along with the tail end of generation "X."
My senior year of college I had a discussion with a co-worker (I'm part of generation "Y" while he is the tail end of generation "X") about the different generations in the workforce through out the years. We talked about how our grandparents grew up in the time that you took whatever trade you were able to train in and you worked hard in it. Our parents grew up in the time to get the best job and education possible, the one that would make you the most possible money even if you didn't entirely enjoy it, and worked hard at the minimum 9am-5pm day schedule but not limited to it. Our discussion continued on to how our own generation wants more fulfillment in their careers; we want to love what we are doing and we want there to be purpose behind what we are giving up our time for. Some of our generation is willing to work hard others are not.
As the years have gone on I have found this discussion to be true and false. I've seen a mixture of workers, from my generation, in the work force who are still following their parent's exact footsteps, while others are taking on the theory of Generation Y, and lastly a mixture of both. I would have to say that I have found success in the workplace by working with the work ethics that have been taught to me by my parents; work hard, go above and beyond, do your best, etc. I have also found success by applying things that my dad has valued in his employees in his own business; ask what else you can help with, be friendly and professional, ask questions, be willing to learn new things, teach your co-workers your job so that if you were to "die" the office would not fall apart, etc.
BUT I still have the itch to LOVE what I'm doing. A career takes up a big chunk of your life and I still want to experience life. It's kind of like the saying, "You either live to work or you work to live." I only want to work so that I can live; see the world, serve others, have a family, create memories, etc.
I found an interesting article about how to motivate generation Y. I agree with somethings while disagree with others; well, I guess on how it applies to me. But as a whole, I can see this true to the average generation Y person.
15 Tips for Motivating Generation Y in the Workplace
I found it interesting how true some of the things were; a need for feedback, wanting to work as a team (When I first read this caption I thought, "No... I hate group projects," but as it went on, it talked about how we like to throw out our ideas and get confirmation that we are taking the right steps. I do that all the time. I'm fully capable of making my own decisions but if I have the time to run them past others in the work place, I will.), don't assume fully technology savvy, teach them they're making a difference (Like I was saying above, we want there to be a purpose and we want to believe in that purpose), give them flexibility (Sad but true. Why does Google, for example, seem so appealing to work for? Because they offer time during the work day to go work out, the ease of playing foosball while brain storming, etc.) and teach them to write (Oh wow! I'll be honest, I don't have the greatest writing skills, and because of it I was never confident at work and would usually ask co-workers to double check something before I sent it out, but I've seen even worse. We are a generation of writing notes in Jr. High with acronyms and text messaging the rest of our life with its own "language." I once saw an admission letter to an university with a smiley face icon in it.... ummm yeah... not appropriate).
I also found the "be prepared to negotiate" and "assume they are venting about you online" bullet points interesting as well. When I worked for my university in college I would get phone calls from parents, of new incoming students, who would say things like, "I can see why that rule/requirement is set in place but that shouldn't apply to us because..." These parents were also negotiating for their kids and I saw it more and more in the students themselves of each incoming class. They seemed to think they were entitled to get the easy way out and not work for a thing. This was so foreign to me because I am a rule follower; if I'm asked to do something... I do it. If I'm told that I have to reach certain requirements... I reach them or understand that I can not get what I want when I don't reach them.
"Assume they are venting about you online," we all see this all the time; I personally think it is sad at how true this statement is. I personally think that venting about work and co-workers in a public place is unprofessional, petty and childish. And honestly... a good way to cause more problems at work and even end up loosing your job.
Anyways! These are my thoughts lately on my generation in the work place. Now I wonder, what will generation Z be like?
