What Every Generation Needs
Sarah Sherer is the Director of Employee Relations. We know her as the sounding board, place of last resort and coach for leaders throughout the organization. We asked her to share her wisdom on engaging employees of different ages. What she said might surprise you.
By Sarah Sherer | 2 minutes
WHY MILLENNIALS ARE (NOT REALLY) UNIQUE
Lately, people come to me perplexed with their younger employees, their millennial employees. I often hear 鈥渉ow do I manage and engage a multi-generational workforce, especially the millennial generation?鈥
I tell them that every generation needs the same thing: understanding the 鈥渨hy鈥 and 鈥渉ow鈥 of their personal contributions and impact on the organization. You may just need to change the delivery of the message to communicate clearly with the individual employee.
The key to unlocking each employee鈥檚 potential is shifting away from a 鈥渇eedback鈥 model to a 鈥渄ialogue鈥 approach.
We are in an exciting time! Our workforce is diverse in their strengths. The key to unlocking each employee鈥檚 potential is shifting away from a 鈥渇eedback鈥 model to a 鈥渄ialogue鈥 approach. It means moving from 鈥淚鈥檓 giving you feedback on your performance鈥 to 鈥渓et鈥檚 have a conversation about what is important.鈥
So how does it work? Here are just a few practices that you can integrate into your own management style.
EXPLAIN THE "WHY"
Don鈥檛 take it personally if employees ask 鈥渨hy.鈥 Asking 鈥渨hy鈥 is not a sign that they don鈥檛 support you or the team, but rather an opportunity to explain your team鈥檚 role and the impact you make within our organization. We value employees by helping them understand that the work that they do plays a pivotal point in our success.
BE CLEAR AND SET EXPECTATIONS
Big breakdowns occur when both the employee and the manager are frustrated because each are falling short of each other鈥檚 鈥渆xpectations.鈥 Clearly defined goals demonstrate what success will look like. As a leader, you will have a much easier time holding your team accountable and celebrating successes.
CREATE AN OPEN ENVIRONMENT
All employees want a voice. Hearing employees鈥 opinions might not change your decisions, but listening to employees communicates respect. By creating an environment of mutual respect, you will set a stage for all conversations.
Be Open to New Ideas
You may be presented with new ideas from your staff that stray away from 鈥渢he way we鈥檝e always done it,鈥 and that鈥檚 okay! By being open to ideas, you will grow as a leader.
Providing exceptional patient care, being the top in quality in the nation, and creating advancements in healthcare does not just happen. Teams working together while being led by engaged leaders is the foundation to continuing success.
FUN FACT: UUHC'S MILLENNIAL MAJORITY
Millennials now make up the largest percentage of 麻豆学生精品版 Care's workforce. Numbers are based on a sample of roughly 10,000 staff employed by 麻豆学生精品版 Care Hospitals and Clinics (2016).
Header image data from HBR April 7, 2016 (permission 291674)
CONTRIBUTOR
Sarah Sherer
Chief Human Resources Officer, 麻豆学生精品版
