Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Evan Carmichael Top Header
Share for a Cause









5 Tips for Workplace Retention Across Generations

Written by: Misti Burmeister

Article Overview: How to retain your best young talent

Free Download - Communication Saboteurs: Egos By Misti Burmeister
Name: Email:

5 Tips for Workplace Retention Across Generations

“What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens.”

-Thaddeus Golas

The generational challenge is not one that rests solely on the shoulder of organizations or seasoned professionals. It’s equally important to educate all generations on the magnificence and importance of these differences. Here are some of her tips and techniques for leading across generations, regardless of generation.

1. Educate Yourself. Generational differences are real and, if not well understood can cause clash, which slows productivity. That said, locate three professionals of a different generations and ask them to share about themselves; what’s important to them, why it’s important to them, how they got to where they are ~ gain an understanding and respect for your differences and locate your commonalities. Also, find three books on generational diversity and dive in. The three that I highly recommend are: From Boomers To Bloggers: Success Strategies Across Generations, Generations at Work, Retiring the Generation Gap: How Young Employees Young and Old can Find Common Ground.

2. Generate a Clear Vision. If you are in a leadership position, it is your responsibility to create a clear vision for your team. While your organization may have its own mission/vision statement, it is incredibly valuable to create one for your team. The leader creates the vision, which gives the long-term goal of where you, the team and the organization are headed. Doing so will create a clear pathway to success and everyone enjoys the great feeling success brings. In order to create a vision, ask yourself the following questions: What problem(s) do you solve? What needs do you fill? What specifically do you sell? How do you make money? What is your revenue model? How is your organization different from every other organization out there? What is your organization’s unique selling proposition?

3. Generate a Clear Mission. A mission is a statement of purpose put together by a team of people, which creates clarity, focus, teamwork, personal accountability and inspiration. It gives direction as to how the vision will be achieved. Bringing key people together to strategize on your mission naturally creates synergy, teamwork and collaboration. Consider bringing your team together, articulating your vision, let them know that none of it is possible without them and request their support in generating a short, pithy, inspiring mission. You can use some of the same questions to prompt their thought process. Ask your team: Are you clear about where we’re headed and the importance of your contribution?

4. Get to know your team. Consider what you will gain by knowing what motivates your team members. It is possible that either you are in a position that plays against your strengths or you have people on your team who are in positions that are not in alignment with their natural talents. Getting to know yourself and/or your team will aid you greatly in getting the most out of each person, yourself included. Each generation is motivated and inspired differently ~ understanding these differences and learning how to best harness your talent will only add to your credibility as a leader. Ask yourself: am I playing to my strengths? And, am I leaders others to play to their strengths?

5. Acknowledge your team consistently. Identify ways to publicly and privately acknowledge your teammates for their hard work. Give them the credit they desire and deserve. I distinctly remember a Senior Vice President at a Fortune 5 company say these specific words: “I know I have an excellent Sales Manager when I compliment her/him on their work and they quickly ensure I know it’s their team doing all the heavy lifting.”

Remember…if you don’t know yourself and your team, you’ll never get the most out of them. “Be the change” ~ take time to learn about YOURSELF and YOUR team. Capitalize on playing to your strengths.

Related Articles
  Which Generation is More Able to Handle a Recession?
  How to Leverage the Strengths of Four Generations Through Mentoring
  Social Media Bridging the Age Gap: The Demise of Generational Differences
  Strategic Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach For Managing The MultiGenerational Work Force
  Generation Y - Is Your Business Prepared?

Home > Women-Entrepreneurs > Misti Burmeister > 5 Tips for Workplace Retention Across Generations
Article Tags: boomers, clash, clear vision, common ground, commonalities, gap, generation gap, generations at work, leadership position, long term goal, magnificence, mission vision statement, pathway to success, productivity, revenue model, statement of purpose, success strategies, thaddeus golas, three books, unique selling proposition

About the Author: Misti Burmeister
RSS for Misti's articles - Visit Misti's website

A leading authority and bestselling author on the topic of inter-generational communication, Misti Burmeister has – for more than 10 years – empowered multi-generational organizations to increase their effectiveness, thus improving their company’s profits and productivity, and substantially accelerating their careers. www.mistib.com www.leadingacrossgenerations.com This talented entrepreneur has consulted for well-known companies including AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, UPS, government agencies and many others. Combining humor with hard-hitting information, she’s earned acclaim for providing immediately applicable steps that enable staff to work together and bring out the best in teams and organizations, in spite of their generational differences. A holder of degrees in both Psychology and Kinesiology with a Masters degree in Human Communications, Misti has proved that increased understanding plus systemized methods of implementation result in increased collaboration and improve a company’s bottom line. And, as you’ll be able to easily see for yourself, she brings a passion, belief and skill set to this topic that will empower you to fulfill your potential.

Click here to visit Misti's website
Dashed Line

More from Misti Burmeister
RecessionProof your Career Part I of II
Checking Your Assumptions Part II of II
Who SHOULD be mentored
How to Make Mega Millions
Avoiding Pitfalls in Mentoring Relationships Part III of III


Related Forum Posts
Business Tips Business Tips - How about: Tips for managers to handle employees more effectively? Tips on how to deal with difficult customers? Tips on how to deal more effectively with suppliers? The only three I have in mind right now, but will try to come up with something else. Chris
Re: Using Craigslist SEO to Promote Your Website Re: Using Craigslist SEO to Promote Your Website - Great Craiglist Tips for driving traffic. I can definitely use these to drive traffic to my blog.
Re: Search Engine Tips and Ideas - Share Yours Re: Search Engine Tips and Ideas - Share Yours - Hi there, I answer this post, to start off. I am still learning a lot on all these subjects. Moreover, we have a wonderful tool to find out from previous posts. On the top right corner, use 'Advanced Search' and write 'Search Engine Tips'. It brings up all the previous posts with that information. Check it out. You will be surprised all the inherent information stored.
Workplace Warrior: Insights and advice for winning on the co Workplace Warrior: Insights and advice for winning on the co - Workplace Warrior: Insights and advice for winning on the corporate battlefield Kay Hammer 2000 From the inside jacket: Successful people don't get to the top without struggles. But few are willing to expose the failures and setbacks that have lined their paths through the battle zones of business. Kay Hammer is that rare breed. With startling candor and penetrating intelligence, this "very modern, very American heroine (Forbes) gives a frank and full recounting of her mid-career reinvention, from a linguistics professor alone to the President, CEO, and co-founder of Evolutionary Technologies International... Hammer's new life began with an epiphany - that nothing substantive in her life would change unless she made it happen. There would be no Prince Charming. From that moment on, she began a long, ardous journey to carve for herself in the youthful, male-dominated software industry-a journey which she likens to serving the apprenticeship of a medieval warrior... Her strategies are geared for battles on all fronts: not only for disarming foes, gaining allies, and winning battles in the boardroom, but also for confronting the internal enemies of self-doubt, fear of failure, and unresolved anger.
The 11-7-06 NEFA Meeting went very well! The 11-7-06 NEFA Meeting went very well! - The NEFA meeting held Tuesday November 7th went very well. The meeting was very well attended and Mary Tomzack of FranchiseHelp, Inc. presented her unique perspective in regards to franchising. Mary also distributed a copy of her book, "Tips & Traps of buying a franchise". The next NEFA meeting is January 23rd, when the IFA Chairman "Doc" Cohen, an American Cookie Company multi unit franchisee with make a presentation. I'll post more information when the date gets closer. Thank you!


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.



Featured Article


Bottom Footer
Share for a Cause












Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

Resolving A Conflict Between Two Sales Staffs

How to Ask for a Flexible Work Arrangement

Local Marketing: 3 Simple Low-Cost Strategies

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.