In my last Insight, I discussed the number two myth about Generation Y. The number three myth about Generation Y is that they don't know very much and they have short attention spans.
I'll tell you why I think this is a fundamental misunderstanding: It used to be that we could count on the fact that if a person had reached a certain level of education, there was a shared knowledge base that we all had in common. There were just certain things that everybody knew. And that's no longer true. But it doesn't mean they don't know anything. It just means they know different things.
And remember, this is a generation that has grown up in a tidal wave of information. There's more information produced in an hour than all of us working together could master in a lifetime. Meanwhile, technology has become more and more complex, but easier and easier to use. So their information management tools of choice are menu-driven information systems, social networking technology, Wiki technology—real-time information management tools. This doesn't mean they have short attention spans. It means that they have learned how to think, learn and communicate in sync with today's information environment.
And remember, this is where we're all headed. We're all headed toward a world where we focus on multiple things at any given time. We're all headed toward a world where we answer questions instantly at our fingertips using technology. We're all headed toward a world where we may not have the information in our heads but we know we have it available at our fingertips.
Because of today's information environment, most Gen Yers PROBABLY walk in the door with more information in their heads than anyone ever has.
But I PROMISE YOU they have more information available at their fingertips than anyone ever has.
Bonus Management Tip
In Loco Parentis Management: The Point System
If you can think of easy ways to convert the performance you need from your young employees into a point system, then maybe you should consider it. I promise you, a point system will get Gen Yers focused like a laser beam.
If you want them to start showing up earlier for work, attach points for every minute they arrive early, and take away points for every minute they come in late.
If you want Gen Yers to meet quality standards, give them checklists of every detail and specification, and give points for every detail and specification completed—and take away points for every one missed.
If you want Gen Yers to speed up, set a realistic quota of tasks per hour and give points for every task done over the quota-and take away points for every task under the quota.
Of course, it helps a lot if the points add up to concrete rewards.
In my next Insight, I will talk about the number four myth about Generation Y.
Created by: Bruce Tulgan, © 2009 RainmakerThinking, Inc. in conjunction with Bruce's free video newsletter that's available at
Rainmakerthinking.com.