Are Gen X slackers or smart workers?

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A new Consumer Electronics Usage Survey from Accenture indicates that Baby Boomers (those over 45 years old) are adopting consumer technology nearly 20 times faster than younger generations. Meanwhile, use and adoption by Gen Y (18-28 years old) seems to have leveled off.

According to the report, Boomers:

• increased reading blogs and listening to podcasts by 67% year over the year; nearly 80 times faster than Gen Y (1%);
• posted a 59% increase in using social networking sites — more than 30 times faster than Gen Y (2%);
• increased watching/posting videos on the Internet by 35% — while Gen Y usage decreased slightly (-2%);
• accelerated playing video games on the go via mobile devices by 52% — 20 times faster than Gen Y (2%); and
• increased listening to music on an iPod or other portable music player by 49% — more than four times faster than Gen Y (12%).

Now, it seems to me that Gen Y ALREADY HAS the technology so adoption rate is a skewed look at the actual usage of technology.

The Gen Y Millenials have a point!
 
The Wall Street Journal ran an Article "Trophy Kids Meet the Cruel World" a week ago.  A reply letter from an eloquent Millenial sheds light on their valid point of view:
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"I take offense at the patronizing profile of the Millennial generation. The so called "negative" traits he describes are the very traits that will help Millenials succeed.
 
I was born in 1981, and I happily acknowledge that I possess many of the traits:

The desire to "know how (I'm) doing weekly, even daily."  Check.

Placing a "high premium on success, filling resumes with not only academic accolades but also sports and other extracurricular activities."  Check.

The confidence to "brashly fire off emails to everyone from the CEO on down, trying to get an inside track to a job."  Check.

Don't those sound like good traits in this economy?

We embody these traits not because we believe we are better than others but because of lessons learned from our times and because of the failures of the Baby Boomers and Generation X.

We understand better than any generation since the Great Depression that security isn't guaranteed. 
 
We watched 9/11.  We are now watching the economy collapse. 
 
When we seek higher pay or promotions, , it's because we know that, as the youngest employees, we are the easiest to let go. 

When we appear "disloyal" to a company it's because companies are no longer loyal to employees, which is a development that happened on the Boomer's watch. 

We also understand the impact work has on family life.

When we want flexible work schedules and vacation,


Our mothers sought professional fulfillment, and we became latch-key kids.  Many of our parents got divorced.

 Note to Boomers: Not everything we learn from you is something you tell us.
(end of letter)
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I (Ellen) can absolutely see their point. 

I delayed Thanksgiving dinner one year and numerous of my kids' birthdays over the years toiling away on something that amazingly seemed more important at the time.  Ouch!

The Millenials will lead the charge for true equality without elitist boundaries and work where people are treated humanely with respect.  They know that life is precious and fragile and are not willing to settle for anything less than a life lived fully.

I may even get a tatoo myself!  :)

As always, let me know your thoughts.

I love hearing from you.  :)   Ellen

That new kid we hired doesn't get it!

In continuing research on “Seismic Generation Gaps” which is a speech topic that I am continuing to add to:  I wanted to share with you some of what I have uncovered.

Echo Boomers:    those born since 1980 have significantly higher self esteem than prior generations and significantly higher rates of depression. 

These kids were told, “You can be anything you want!”  

We forgot to add: “if you are willing to work for it.”  

They grew up with inflated grades and sports where everyone got trophies even if they were in last place.  Now, these kids are hitting the job market and they are stunned with the low pay (in their minds) and the amount of work they are expected to do.  

This isn't all kids...but, enough to define this generation. 

 They fully expected to be the next Google millionaire or American Idol.   

This expectation is without even knowing anything about business or being able to sing. 

 Witness the American Idol “Worst.” Now, those people make sense to me. They honestly think that because “I want it.  This is my passion.  This is my dream.” they are entitled to a ticket to Hollywood!  Remember the mantra:  “I can be anything I want!”   Simon Cowell coached one participant, “Never sing again!”   She replied, “But, I canceled cheer leading camp to be here!” 
i.e.  I want it = I can have it.

Another media mantra that is repeated so often to all of us that it seems “normal.” 

 “You are special!”

Barney sang it.  The schools innocently teach this in their self esteem curriculum.  Look at the TV commercials.  They scream:  “You are special!”  every 30 seconds.

Special?  Too special to work overtime?  Too special to work (period)?

The interpretation of  "special" is:   I deserve more special treatment than anybody else.  No one seems to question the absurdity of everyone being "special."

One study reported that the average high school senior expected their salary to be around $1 million.   They don’t expect to work at anything like a manufacturing plant or even a normal everyday office.

Their job description is one word, “Fun!” 

Then there is reality.   Work isn’t always fun and the percentage of people making $1 million dollars is still in single digits.

Now, there is an alarming percentage that are chronically demotivated and even clinically depressed. 

The new kid you hired? 

That kid feels duped and abandoned; even angry. 
The kid doesn't understand why. 

 Next post I'll cover some ways to help him/her to wake up and join life.

As always, let me know your thoughts.

I love hearing from you.  :) 

The #1 business driver of future success is having a high performance workforce. According to 3 out of 4 respondents in the Dept. of Labor 2005 survey http://www.doleta.gov/wired/files/us_mfg_talent_management.pdf

It's official, EVERYONE (skilled or not) is already working!

The report today by the Labor Department in Washington showed that the unemployment rate has remained at 4.7 percent. http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/surveymost?bls

5 % is considered Full Employment. Which means there are almost NO candidates for open positions.

Further in a DOL 2005 Skills Gap Survey; the skills shortage is already affecting 80% of companies surveyed.

The Department of Labor also forecasts a shortage of 10 Million workers by 2010. Retiring Baby Boomers will wipe out 50% of Executive positions in the next 5 years. Then there are the issues of Generation X, Y, and the current one coming into the workplace: the Millenials. Leadership looks ALOT different for them. I'll write another blog about that later.

What to do?
1. Have an active succession plan for replacements for the next 3 years- now.
2. Coach and train likely in-house candidates for executive competencies; leading others, teamwork, personal accountability, and political awareness.
3. Implement Accountability Processes across the board that increase self management and creativity at the individual level.
4. Get serious about Hiring/Selecting good people and keeping them.

Let us know when you want to know how to go about these action steps.
What an amazing time to be alive!

Ellen