Tag Archives: Work Space

How Do You Best Manage a Multi-generational Staff? Five Suggestions

Situation:  Employee pools are now multi-generational, with Baby Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y/Millennials and Echo-Boomers. Each group often has different expectations regarding work environments and careers. How do you connect with different generations? How do you best manage a multi-generational staff?

Advice from the CEOs:

  • People may be of different generations but they are still individuals. Ask what drives or motivates them. What they would consider an ideal reward for hard work?
  • Some companies offer a sabbatical after several years of employment – the opportunity to work on hobbies, go on an adventure or use the time as they wish. This attracts employees and encourages retention.
  • Some employees don’t seek promotion but are good contributors. They may prefer an extra week of vacation over a promotion.
  • One company gives employees budgets to spruce up their work space – allowing them some control over their work environment.
  • What are good tips on working with younger employees? Coach them to communicate thoughtfully and carefully – instead of shooting from the hip without considering impact or consequences. Bring them into the process; don’t tell them to wait. Let them start as an observer. Listen when they have questions or suggestions. Ask their opinion. Younger managers may find that they need more patience communicating expectations to older staff. Establish individualized performance metrics and enable them to monitor progress on their computers. Break down job tiers into additional levels with more achievement incentives. Allow them to reset expectations frequently.

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How Do You Increase a Team’s “Voltage”? Three Suggestions

Situation: A CEO is concerned that his team feels like it has lost energy. This could be temporary or seasonal, but he feels that something needs to be done to increase the excitement or “voltage” of the team and workplace. What have others done in a similar situation. How do you increase a team’s “voltage”?

Advice from the CEOs:

  • Anoint a “Champion of Fun.”
    • The objective is to recreate the excitement and joy that has been present in the company in the past. The individual assigned should be someone who has frequently or consistently demonstrated high energy and enthusiasm.
    • The person should be an employee – not management.
    • This could be two people who focus on different things – one for small, day to day activities, and one for big events, like a Habitat for Humanity Day.
  • Create a sense that employees have some control over their environment. This adds energy.
    • Circulate an Office Depot catalogue and give each employee a modest budget that they can spend to dress up their work space.
    • This has an amazing impact on the pride that they feel in their work space.
  • Bring in lunch as a surprise a couple of times a month. This is for getting reacquainted, not for business discussions during lunch.
    • The objective is to build the team camaraderie, and to enhance communication and collaboration among the team.

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