I have to say I'm pretty old school in my management style and beliefs.
If you're paid to do a professional job, I expect a certain level of professionalism to deliver on the basic requirements and boundaries set. I like rules, I like clarity and I like it if inviduals on every level could just approach things on a rational, mature level.
But the rules are changing.
This Generation Y (of which I'm part of by the way) has such a strong sense of entitlement. And this is not necessarily a bad thing - it is driven by many positive attributes such as higher self esteem and confidence, the ability to speak up assertively and be direct and clear in communicating issues, and a higher level of risk taking and creativity.
And at the same time, it doesn't necessarily mean that Generation Y are more difficult to manage. For me personally, right now, they're just more irritating to manage, particularly when this overwhelming sense of entitlement and that the world owes them a favour is given off.
A typical scenario nowadays involves a fresh graduate coming into an interview expecting a high salary without any real work experience and before even proving that he or she can do a decent job. When hired, this person would then want more autonomy in decision-making, flexible schedules to facilitate work-life balance and high visibility projects that tap into their strengths of creativy, passion and energy.
And to be honest, I don't mind trying to find these projects for them but the truth is that there may not be enough projects to go around, especially those that really get this generation engaged and excited. The result is that very quickly the person feels stagnant, unengaged and is unable to even properly perform in their core duties at a high level due to reduced motivation.
I can't for the life of me figure out why a person would think that they have the right and qualification to work on a stretch project when they can't even deliver on their basic requirements of the role that they are paid to do.
In every position out there, I believe that a good part of it is going to be tedious and boring. Even in creative and management roles, there is a significant part of the job assigned to reporting, paperwork and administration. But it's part of the job and it needs to be done well in order for you to excel in the other areas which you may have greater strength.
Imagine you were good at mentoring up leaders to build leadership capability but you never replied to e-mails from your boss or delivered the weekly and monthly reports of how your department was doing. You'd still get shot down no matter how well you built people.
Earn the right to be recognised in what you do that is great by not mucking up all the rest of it. Maintain your credibility and keep your ego in check.
The world doesn't owe any of us a favour.
Merely believing and saying that you are good doesn't make it so because at the end of the day, results matter...and consistent results over a period of time to show that your passion is not just a flash in the pan. The company will recognise the employees that deliver great value and reward them accordingly - if the company doesn't, leave and don't just sit around complaining.
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