4 Secret Clues For How The Y Generation Will Fix Frustration At Work

In 2005, nearly 60% of human resource professionals in large companies reported conflict betweenyounger and older workers. This has not changed much today. Some business owners and managers in my community are so frustrated with young workers that they have decided not to hire them ever again.

I am always sorry to hear this because not hiring young people is not a solution. Rather, it is a lose-lose situation for companies that want to remain successful in the long-term and for Generation Y (Gen Y) who are increasingly unemployed and lack work experience.


There is a better way.


If you are a business owner or manager age 45 to 70, it is possible that Gen Y will not begin to think and act the way you do at work, not soon enough anyway. Openness and willingness to look at new ways of getting-work-done is a faster, longer-lasting way out of frustration at work.


At first, it may feel like you are giving-in to your least-experienced workers and as though you've relinquished power and control. It is important to know that frustration with employees is less about Generation Y and more about the "waves of change" they ride. Change causes all of us to feel a lack of confidence until we accept it and take responsibility to work with it.


Recent research projects that Gen Yers will set the new norm for the workplace in 2014 when they become 50% of the workforce. They will be put into key leadership positions faster and have less time to get ready than Boomers did. If this is true, it is good to start listening now to how Generation Y employees intend to make the workplace better. Maybe you will want to get a head start on them.


Here are 4 Clues for how Generation Y will change the workplace once they are in charge:


Clue #1. Meetings will be productive and most will last only 30 minutes. Everyone will come prepared and know exactly what the team is doing. Gen Y hates to waste time and this is causing some of the greatest conflict among generations.


Clue #2. Gen Y will promote people who are clear about who are competent, trustworthy, and relate to employees in ways that inspire them to be their best, not because they are senior and have "put in more time".


Clue #3. Gen Y will find mentors to get their careers jump-started, throwing out the "sink-or-swim" style of management. They will be terrific mentors themselves, bringing "mentoring-up" to the workplace and teaching values of collaboration, innovation, and social connection to the next generation of workers.


Clue #4. Gen Y will re-invent retirement as many retreats - not one, spread out over time. The economy is too uncertain and they will live too long to regularly sacrifice family and fun in hopes of an extended period for doing what they really want to do (like their parents expected). For Gen Y, living is for today, not to be put-off.


And, if you can take time to get to know Gen Y employees, they will want to learn from you and you will have less frustration at work.

Bottom line, workplace frustration can be minimized when people of different generations are understood and validated for characteristics they are pretty much stuck with.