Bridging the generation gap

“How does he not know to bring a notebook and a pen to a meeting? Do I have to tell him everything?”

“What would make her think it was OK to party with the clients until 3 in the morning?”

“Did you know his mother called HR to find out when he would be getting a raise? Unbelievable!”

If you have new hires fresh out of school in your workplace, some of that may have a familiar ring. Are these new hires prompting those reactions just bad hires? Are you just unlucky? Probably not. Rather, the source of the surprises most likely has to do with training (or the lack of training) related to workplace expectations.

Before you say, “But they should know,” don’t waste your breath. Maybe they should know, but they don’t. New hires are called new hires for a reason. They are freshly minted employees who don’t know much about the workplace because most of them haven’t been in it that long.

Think about it: If the shoe were on the other foot, and you found yourself in some kind of Freaky-Friday hell, do you think you would flawlessly understand today’s high school or college social codes? Dream on, and good luck with that.

As someone with more experience than the people you hire, you have a responsibility to get them off to a good start. By consistently following three steps, you can short circuit many of the problems people encounter when they start working with new hires.

STEP ONE: UNDERSTAND SOMETHING ABOUT THEM.

Millennials as a generation are different from those who have come before them. More than a few still live at home and don’t plan on leaving soon. Besides, if they borrowed money for school, they already may owe what amounts to a mortgage. That doesn’t mean they’re clueless about life outside of the nest, but their circumstances are probably very different from yours at the same age. Assume nothing.

Next, you must understand these people grew up surrounded by ever-present technology and in an era of instant answers. Sure, you may have had an Atari or Nintendo, but it’s not the same thing. They had and still have Google. They are used to being able to find information and find it quickly. Raised in an era of parents as friends and instant answers, many of these individuals have no problem questioning authority. In the workplace, you may see a new hire ask questions and interact with senior leaders in ways you don’t expect; maybe you already have.

Another difference between millennials and other generations is how they view praise. As children, this generation of people played on sports teams where everyone received a trophy just for showing up. They also were rewarded and recognized with ribbons and certificates at school for being polite, having integrity and displaying common courtesy. Millennials expect feedback larded with praise whether merited or not.

Longevity in an organization is another difference between this generation and others. Years ago, it was a major taboo to job jump or have gaps on a resume. These days, you will find that this generation will gladly take six months off to go hiking along the Appalachian Trail or volunteering somewhere overseas. Strangers to delayed gratification, they aren’t saving those activities for retirement, and they don’t expect to spend a lifetime with a company.

Instead of pretending millennials will be part of your team for a decade or more, look for ways to make the most of the time you have together while they are there.

STEP TWO: SPELL OUT EVERYTHING.

Millennials are not the Amazing Kreskin, nor are they likely to know who he is. Again, assume nothing, and be direct about your expectations.

Take workplace dress, for example. There was a time not too long ago when women wore stockings to work and wouldn’t consider crossing the office threshold in open-toed shoes. That was then. These days, if you offer no guidance, some new millennial employees will cross the threshold in footwear you wouldn’t wear outside your house. And when the parade of fashion crimes starts, you will have no one to blame but yourself. You need to tell people that, contrary to what they may see online or in a magazine, the flip-flop is not the new Ferragamo.

Once you’ve thought about the basics, you’ll need to anticipate the times on the job when the new hire will interact with people outside your organization. Is the new hire attending a client function with you? If so, it makes sense to review your expectations before you head out the door.

Whereas most people might do fine on their own, that’s not the point. If you expect an employee to behave in a certain way, you need to clearly communicate these expectations.

STEP THREE: USE PRAISE AND USE IT OFTEN.

Most people like praise. As mentioned earlier, the difference between millennials and other generations is they are used to getting it.

To get the most out of your young new hires, you must learn how to give feedback more often.

A word of caution: Millennials know when they are being patronized just as well as the next person. Therefore, choose your words wisely. At this point, many of them will have figured out that the trophy thing wasn’t such a hot idea. Instead, you are going to have to pay attention and recognize good work. It’s more time consuming, but if you put in the effort, you will probably see more of what you want to see from your new employees.

Do not rely solely on feedback on the fly, however. The reality is it’s easy to get busy. Instead, make the time to have structured conversations with your new hires about their professional development.

Thinking about skipping this step? Don’t. Regularly scheduled one-on-one meetings ultimately will benefit the new hire, the organization and you.

FEW SHORTCUTS

Developing a new employee takes time, and working with new hires presents its own set of challenges. Few shortcuts exist along the road to success in the workplace.

How much effort you put in to another person is certainly up to you. But think back to your first days in the workplace. If someone spent the time to work with you early in your career, you were lucky. If you didn’t have that opportunity, don’t you wish you had?

Kate Zabriskie is the president of Business Training Works Inc., a Maryland-based talent development firm. More information is available online at www.businesstraining works.com.