Managing Gen Y

When we think of the Gen Y population (those 10-30 years old now), we don’t often think of them as another culture. We think – we are all in America, how can they be another culture? But, culture does not have to involve a passport, instead we need to think of it as the values and norms of a group of people. If we consider Gen Y as another culture than we can use a different way of thinking to create a better understanding.

Learning about another culture is about exploring the cultural values, norms, language, roles and manners of seeing the world. Taking a look at Gen Y through a cross cultural filter allows us to step back from frustration and instead to engage our curiosity. If we assumed that we knew nothing about them – what would we notice first? Their language? Their behaviors? Their values and norms? Try it. Pick a Gen Y in your life and step back and observe them like you would someone in another country.

Gen Y is a fundamentally different culture than the generations before it. This is neither good nor bad. It simply is. They are not a group to be fixed, nor will they conform to our preconceived ideas of what they should be doing, particularly in the workplace.

I am reminded of the quote by Wade Davis which is: “The world in which you were born is just one model of reality. Other cultures are not failed attempts at being you. They are unique manifestations of the human spirit.”

Stepping back and seeing Gen Y as another culture makes it more fun to explore their world and  how they see it. Enjoy the adventure.