People want to know why Gen Y individuals do not take initiative and use more common sense. The truth is Gen Y, also called Millennials, were brought up in a sheltered environment, with many things done for them. There was no need for initiative, certainly less for common sense, and especially little need to communicate effectively, if at all. Mom, Dad and the schools, both public and private, designed a world of order and structure, which left little room to demonstrate personal traits.
Gen Y’s world was always well thought out, with little or no extra help required. If the child said they were bored, no one said go read something or go play outside. No, for these kids a plan was put in place to continue to make life easier for the child. There was never a plan in place to help this child in the work force and real life.
What Millennials don’t know or were never taught can be learned; it does require extra attention towards Gen Y employees until new personality traits such as initiative, pro-activity, common sense, problem solving and a ‘let’s go ’ attitude can be put in place.
Millennials, as good as they think they are, are missing numerous social and life skills that will make them a better employee as well as an excited student. Employers can attract the right Millennials to work for them; employers need to provide more help.
Millennials need answers to the following from their leaders, managers and mentors:
- What is this job about and how can I contribute to its success?
- When you tell me to do something, please tell me why this segment requires completion?
- What is the least acceptable progress I can make on the job; what does the best progress, to go above and beyond, require?
- How can I learn to be adaptive, to change course even if I was never told the reasons why?
- These questions can be answered by the same leaders, managers and mentors that complain instead of helping Millennials.
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Joanne
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