Have you heard complaints about the young people entering today’s workforce? I have a 19 and 21 year old who have 19 and 21 year old friends. I do know the challenges of leading this generation BUT … are these young workers any different than we were when we entered the workforce?
Do you remember being 18, 19, 20 … 21 … frustrated because you had ideas that no one would listen to? Your young, sharp mind was full of possibilities and very few limitations. You wanted to make a difference in the world. You wanted to do work that mattered. You weren’t taken seriously and, still unsure of yourself, you likely didn’t push too hard. You were told that you didn’t know enough, you didn’t understand the way things had to work.
Do you remember being ignored or worse, being told to sit down, be quiet, do your job and be happy to collect a paycheque?
How did this make you feel about your job?
We all want to work for a leader that inspires, guides, empowers and, for the most part, stays out of our way so we can learn, grow and do our best possible work. We all want to find a company with GOOD leadership that:
- listens
- values its innovators (its staff),
- recognizes and encourages strengths and
- believes in authenticity and constant improvement.
Most of all, we all need to be acknowledged as a person, not a number. We all need to know our work has value and we are making a difference in the big picture.
This new generation is exactly the same. They just show up differently in the workplace than we remember ourselves. There are many reasons for this. (Contact me for a list of reasons at carol@getthrival.com)
I ask all leaders to look for ways to encourage and challenge their young workers … and their entire workforce, to push themselves beyond their limits and make your company greater than you thought possible.You may be surprised by the results!
Jansen Media’s very inspiring interview with an innovative company called KidsNRG.
“The possibilities and implications are endless and insurmountable” ~Danny Smith
What if we all showed up for work each day with this attitude and non-limiting belief?
Maybe, while we teach this new generation what we know, we can learn from them as well. We can learn something we’ve forgotten over years of being told to sit down, be quiet, do our jobs and be happy to collect a paycheque.
Visit each week for new insights, tips and helpful hints to help you lead TODAY’s workforce through TODAY’s challenges.
Sincerely, ~ Carol Carter ~
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