How to Manage an Office Full of 20-Somethings

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and disgusted with 20-something like Britney giving us all a bad name. Yes, you will catch me on facebook during working hours... why is that worse than catching the 45 year old next to me playing solitaire, going for multiple cigarette breaks, or leaning over someone else's cube for an hour? We all need a few minutes here and there to ourselves in order to maintain sanity in these overworked and understaffed times. What matters is whether or not this is effecting the quality of our work. I too think some (and I repeat SOME) older workers tend to over complicate things. Not because they are seeing the bigger picture as someone mentioned earlier, but because they aren't aware of how to use technology to work more efficiently. Which is fine, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. But instead of combatting each other, wouldn't it be great if we could utilize the older generations insight and experience combined with our fresh outlook and technical savvy? Instead, we tend to be told what to do and our attempts at creating efficiencies are ignored. Personally I think we would accomplish more, work more efficiently, and be happier because we are working as teams instead of opponents.
I've been fortunate enough to find a boss that does most of what is mentioned above. As a result we have a wonderful relationship, produce better work, and have brought our dept together as a team. We've cut back on the amount of paper we use, began tracking more electronically, and have produced better reports than ever before. We've done so by doing exactly what I said earlier... using his experience in the industry and my knowledge of technology. I applaud him and managers like him.

of NY 10:40PM June 25, 2008

Erik, you'd hire Britney to answer the phone?!!

Conrad of CA 7:57PM June 25, 2008

I was actually in the midst of answering Britney myself, while hoping it was a joke, when your answer came across. Yours is way better than mine would have been. Way.

GL H of MN 7:27PM June 25, 2008

You are right. I am old(er), a bit wrinkly around the edges and will admit that I am outdated, too. I will even buy into the fact that your ideas are 'fresher.' LIke many in my generation, we are working hard to learn the new ways of communicating, these social networking tools. I must admit to thinking these tools are less about networking and conversing and more about shouting or tweeting "hey, World, here I am, notice me."
But Britney, methinks you have pulled one over on us...so, well done, you almost got us, and re: the above retort, as Gilda would have said: "Nevermind."

GL H of MN 7:11PM June 25, 2008

To: Britney Melissa Vaught
Dear Britney,
I'm 28, and after reading your comment I hope that either you're trying to add some comic relief to this post or you're just being facetious. Let's take a look at your points, and I'll show you why I wouldn't hire you for anything outside of answering a phone or punching buttons on a till:
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I am a 20-something and you just need to realize that you are all old and wrinkled and outdated and we are the ones with fresh new ideas so you shuld repect that.
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You should probably respect the experience that comes with spending years / decades in the workforce. For you to even say that your superiors are "outdated" shows that you lack tact, and would be unsuccessful in any management position due to your inability to effectively build rapport and trust amongst your team.
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and we are used to staying in touch with our friends and peer group and parents so we can stay in touch and it's not fair for you to ask us to turn it off durig the workday.
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Actually, it's very fair. You're being paid for whatever task you're being asked to perform - not to sit around and "communicate" with your friends (and your parents? Do you need a daily check-in with Mom and Dad?) during work hours. So if your workplace asks/demands - then you shut your Facebook / IM / etc. off and do that on your own time. Either that, or leave and get hired somewhere they will pay you for focusing on distractions and time-wasters instead of your job.
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i'm not hapy at my current job but am looking for a new one to find bosses who will pay me what i am worth because i have a college degree and probably know all the latest trends in the business world more than the other people at my job.
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You can't possibly be serious. How can you say that you're worth more because you have a college degree - when you can't even spell "happy" and you have 12 spelling and grammatical errors in a single paragraph? What is your college degree in? Where did you graduate from? What are your marks? Demanding more money simply because you have a degree is demanding to be a pilot simply because you can fold a paper airplane.
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i do think its a good idea for the old timers to learn the currnet social networks or step back so we can. i could teach them a few things, I bet.
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I'd love a sample of what you're going to teach them. "This is how you add friends... and this is how you write on a wall!" Social networks are a massive waste of time if introduced / allowed incorrectly into any work environment. Unless your job is "Social Media Expert" you're probably not getting paid to chill on Facebook and MySpace, so what business skills do you intend on teaching the "Old Timers"?
Your comment is ridiculous. Good luck finding a new job!

erik 5:55PM June 25, 2008

I see a lot of interesting perspectives from both sides here....as a workplace consultant, can I throw in my two cents? I've been lucky enough to have had to research and address this issue from both sides, here's what I've learned:
For managers of 20-somethings, it's become more important than ever to understand the career reality of the newest generation to hit the workplace. While they may be the most educated in terms of the number of them holding diplomas, they've been misguided into thinking that their degree has properly prepared them for the workplace - and we've wrongly assumed it as well. I suggest managers consider treating them more like clients than employees. Get to know where they are coming from and you will find it easier to get what you need from them. You cannot begin to connect with younger workers until you find compassion and understanding for how they've gotten to where they are today.
Additionally, I tell my clients to recognize that the pressure to produce results with a staff of employees who don't have their knowledge-base, nor an appreciation for management's career reality, is impacting their ability to coach effectively. In short, managers often try to instruct when coaching is what is really needed. Instructing is when you tell people what to do. In theory, instructing is quicker than coaching, which requires time and the ability to ask questions and develop the proper thought patterns needed for long-term success. When we instruct, little is retained and a lot less learning occurs - so the process of getting things done actually takes longer than if we had coached the situation. I realize we don't have time to coach every situation, but arguably, the managers who are most frustrated are usually the ones who have no coaching mindset at all - they simply want to instruct once and see perfection. Then, when things start to go wrong they try to fix it with IWAA (instruction with an attitude), which only serves to frustrate both sides even more.
Ironically, the coaching theory also applies to all those 20-somethings who are frustrated by the Baby Boomer management teams that they feel aren't leveraging their strengths. You can try to instruct management on how to help you, but coaching them, a.k.a. managing up, gets much better results then just telling them what they've done wrong.
The communication disconnect will continue until both sides see the value in coaching the other. Sadly, coaching is a skill that many managers and employees never learn. Mainly ,because they don't want to take the time and don't have the patience. Yet, I've seen organizations go from angry to engaged, from paralyzed to mobilized, and in all these cases, showing the entire company how to be better coaches to one another was the key.
Thanks for letting me share GL!

J.T. O'Donnell of NH 3:53PM June 25, 2008

I am a 20-something and you just need to realize that you are all old and wrinkled and outdated and we are the ones with fresh new ideas so you shuld repect that. and we are used to staying in touch with our friends and peer group and parents so we can stay in touch and it's not fair for you to ask us to turn it off durig the workday. i'm not hapy at my current job but am looking for a new one to find bosses who will pay me what i am worth because i have a college degree and probably know all the latest trends in the business world more than the other people at my job. i do think its a good idea for the old timers to learn the currnet social networks or step back so we can. i could teach them a few things, I bet.

Britney Melissa Vaught of OK 2:56PM June 25, 2008

with your point in your second paragraph. If your manager is managing by the latest advice column he happened to read, he is in trouble.
I apologize if my list sounded condescending to any 20-something, it was certainly not my intention.
Personally, I have not had much success in leading this group by treating them as peers. Unfortunately, this 20-something group is under fire nowadays by researcher-writers with little real world experience, which I think is unfair, un-founded and un-substantiated. My main point is there is little difference in managing this age group vs. another. Good leadership/management works in each case.

GLH of MN 1:16PM June 25, 2008

As someone who hit 30 a few months ago, I'd suggest the best way to manage 20 somethings is to treat them as peers. Chances are they have a better level of education, are more motivated to make an impact and have a better ability to learn new things than someone whose been in "the business" for 30 years.
We also can't stand condescending lists that give suggestions on how to manage us. If you need a list from a magazine to understand how to be a manager update your resume. Because those 20 somethings will be your boss before you know what hits you.

jw of NY 12:50PM June 25, 2008