Thanks to the reader who sent the following in response to the last BLOG ‘The Happy PIace – Employee or Employer Responsibility’. I think that as ‘Generation Y’ are moving into businesses they are somewhat egotistical – they expect all the rewards without putting the hard work in, and they reach management positions without understanding what it means to behave like a leader (I say this slightly hypocritically, as I am categorised as ‘Generation Y’ myself).
You also mentioned, ‘Those who seek to be employed who do not have a refined sense of their personal responsibility in this ‘community’ should be avoided like the plague’, again I wholeheartedly agree. … I think it is very important to employ those who will add to the business and brand – rather than just hastily enhance their own career as quickly as possible. I reflected on a quote by Plato – I don’t remember the exact phrase, but he spoke about the behaviour of teenagers and mentioned that the previous generation always questioned their morals, motivations and general conduct. The generational divide has frustrated society for hundreds of years – so I am not concerned that ‘Generation Y’ are any different in that respect. I’m positive that my grandparents thought the same of my parents actions, and so forth. So we shouldn’t worry that ‘Generation Y’ are a shocking new breed of humanity.”
It seems out of character that the above comments should come from a Gen Y, and I guess proves the point that we should exercise great caution when attempting to corral groups or cohorts together for the convenience of type casting. Anyone who reasons like this is already demonstrating leadership and I would be happy to hire more of those regardless of their generation. The last sentence or two remind us that we are not dealing with a unique nor modern phenomenon. So why do we continue to be surprised as generation by generation the same phenomenon is experienced?
One of the phenomenon’s of this generation is the connectedness through social media. I have valiantly tried to do my bit with my Facebook. I just can’t get the hang of Twitter and am inclined to agree with a commentator that it is mindless babble. I don’t think I’ll get into that. I find enough mindless babble on Facebook but it is nice to keep up with those I care about by just clicking in.
And in a more ‘professional’ way I am connected via Linked In, although that is a little embarrassing. You see I set up an account early in the piece, didn’t note the key bits of information and proceeded to forget completely about it. Eventually I set up another but started to get invitations to link via the original account which I can’t answer –embarrassing. No self-respecting Gen Y would do that. And speaking of mindless babble, a change of subject and focus for a moment. I find as I get older I am more aware of my own mortality. I thought I had death all sorted…I had set a strategic goal…I would drop dead (and the age doesn’t matter greatly) at the dinner table, preferably in a nice restaurant, face first into a plate just after a magnificent desert, having enjoyed a great but far too much of a meal, and wine in the company of wonderful people.
However more recently I had just finished reading a magazine whilst having coffee in Rangiora which prompted the prospect of a second option, that of death at high speed in a fantastic performance car. The magazine was an offshoot of the TopGear programme and the boys were test driving some of the fastest production cars.
Petrol head Jeremy was singing the praises of the Aston Martin Vantage V12 although he did say you could get almost the same value for £80,000 less with the Aston Martin DBS V8. Whether I am able to even afford to think about owning one is something of a moot point, let alone finding myself seriously weighing up whether or not to spend another £80,000 to buy the Vantage rather than the DBS.
I have had to revise my plan, damn it! If any sort of Aston Martin is to be an option then the first plan will have to go on hold for a while. You see I will need to work much longer. Which means I’ll have to live much longer, which means an irresponsible disregard for my personal health will have to change to avoid any risk of an early achievement of option one, my till now strategic goal for death.
Oh the dilemma…and if that’s all I’ve got to worry about, this can only mean my missed GenY period has caught up with me.
Crap! Well I better get on with it.
