Gen Y Clients and Staff - Gen Y bother?

There is something different about the Gen Y's.

They communicate in a different way compared to X'rs and Boomers.

Growing up in a post internet world they have adapted and adopted a different mode of communication that often does not translate to the workplace or in dealing with service professionals.

Rapport can be a series of abbreviations in a text message and not the rules of etiquette that PCE were taught.

The way Gen Y's have been brought also lends itself to them in general having a different view of how they should be treated in the workplace or in an advice relationship. Having had parents who during a period of increased wealth and productivity provided opportunity beyond that which they had experienced has led to a Gen Y stereotype of entitlement and neediness. How that translates into the workplace or in advice relationships is a need to be praised for doing what is expected and tailor made solutions.

What this leads to is from a Gen Y perspective is constant disappointment that the lofty expectations can not be met and this is observed as a lack of loyalty as a mobile thought process adopted by many Gen Y's leads them to believe that they can do it better sometimes simply because they know where to find the information and how to connect without regard for whether they actually have the skills to implement.

Is it all about them?

To a degree yes.

The expectations they have for success, for career, for remuneration and ongoing reward, for service are lofty and perhaps unrealistic in that they do not fit with defined structures and the operation of a corporate let alone a mutually beneficial long term advice relationship.

So are they worth the trouble?

They can be. But what PCE belives is that you need to look at it from a different angle. Forget age forget Gen Y, Gen X, Boomers.

Rather look at it from the perspective of how has this individual been brought up? What a their motives, their perceptions, their attitude and how do they learn.

From that you essentially find yourself with two groups - traditionalists and new age.

Traditionalists have been brought up with discipline and work ethic. New age can be seen as self centred but really it's a consequence of them being taught that there is an entitlement that their very being demands. The impact of this can be dramatically varied in our broad generalisation of Western humankind into two groups.

But what is true is that traditionalist will

- cooperate
- collaborate
- seek advice
- deliver on promises
- are true their word
- will accentuate the positives
- work hard
- are driven by intrinsic motivation

The new age will

- challenge
- seek autonomy
- seek information
- deliver on what they see as priorities
- are often non committal and seek contracts and written agreements
- look for shortcomings
- seek flexible work arrangements that fit in with their lifestyle
- driven by extrinsic motivation


What you need for your business culture if employing them and if seeking them as clients how you go about charging them appropriately without factoring in a long term relationship - are critical elements to consider.