SLACKERS: US, NOT THEM.

Motivating the Millennial Generation

Rules …if we must Open discussion The goal is consideration, not conversion.

But you should convert If you think I’m full of it, say so.

but be prepared – because I am really not. We are talking about wild generalizations

and assumptions What is true for most is not necessarily true

for all And even less likely to be true for US

Hard Is SoftSoft Is Hard

Oh…One last rule:

Note: This means that if any of you Baldridge types say “Show me the data” I’m gonna barf, dude.

Question number 1:

Is there a problem?

Question number 2:

What is it?

THE PROBLEM IS RARELY(NEVER) THE

PROBLEM. THE RESPONSE TO THE

PROBLEM INVARIABLY ENDS UP BEING THE

REAL PROBLEM.

- Tom Peters

By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong.

             Charles Wadsworth

The problem is NOT the way they are. The problem is the difference between the way they are and the way we THINK they should be.

             ~ Me.

Reality Check

Raise your hand if you remember hearing this phrase as a 18 to 25 year-old:

“You kids today are just so darned respectful.”

A Pause for the Pragmatic

They aren’t going anywhere.

They aren’t going to radically change.

We CANT do without them.

Only one thing left to do:

The answer is to understand them and leverage their strengths to support the mission.

Ben Casnocha

Understanding them tip #1 - Read what they write….

He’s Twenty: He’s written his first bookIs yours done yet?

(Duh!)

Who Are the Millenials

Thielfoldt and Scheef say between 1977and 1998 Claire Raines says between 1980 and 2000 Other “Experts” cite other dates (9 to 22 years) Mario says – Anyone who doesn't remember (or has a

really hard time remembering) not having access to a computer.

Claire Raines - from Connecting Generations

Thielfoldt and Scheef

My Favorite Millennial

• Anna Vittone, 22

• Always had a keyboard in her bedroom.

• Has NEVER written a check

• Spoke to a bank teller ONCE

• Fluent in Japanese

• Bachelors is CS – Minor in Fisheries??

• Has “best friends” on three continents

• Makes more money than her Daddy

So lets just say for our purposes, that a Millennial is a new hire in their first four to eight years on the job...or on their way towards accession.

Slacker?

Shaped by their Times

Warning: This next part may (should) change your mind about them entirely.

Social Intelligence

Experiences - particularly negative, painful, shocking, or otherwise disturbing - set-up a series of filters in a child's mind through which they view the world.

~ Daniel Goleman -

Seaman Christian Thomas, Seaman Jose Torres, Petty Officer 3rd Class Shawn Smith, Seaman Benjamin Cunningham, and Seaman Stephen Starnes

Were 10 – 14 when they heard and saw this:

Maslow

FN Sasha Baker spent the twelfth year of her life thinking mostly about THIS:

Source: Feeling Safe: Talking to Children About War and Terrorism:

Is there any chance that this event shaped, at least in part, how she views the world?

Did these images shift their view of heroism, patriotism, and who to respect?

Role Models Anyone

What they learned from that?

There is NO reason to respect someone (really) based solely on their rank – age – or experience. They still might be a selfish , lying, crook.

Selfish = Bad Selfless = Good

Claire Raines 8

Focus on Children and Family

Scheduled Structured Lives

Multiculturalism

Terrorism Heroism Patriotism Parent

Advocacy Globalism

Eight key trends of the 90s and 00s have had a profound effect on Gen Y personality.

Source: Connecting Generations – Clare Raines

Compelling Messages

Be Smart - You are special Leave no one behind Connect 24/7 Achieve Now Serve your community

Characteristics

Confident. Hopeful. Goal- and achievement-oriented. Civic-minded. Inclusive

Millennials at Work

Liabilities Assetts

distaste for menial work

lack of skills for dealing with difficult people 

impatience  lack of experience  confidence

multitasking goal orientation positive attitude technical savvy collaboration

Source: Claire Raines

So What do We Do?

More Why? - Less Because.

Leadership – not leadership training

Mentors are Seekers Meet their technology

expectations LEVERAGE their skill

And let them know it.

First: Understand why they are they way they are.

Second: Accept responsibility.

ASTC Mario Vittone

ATTC Elizabeth City

Mario.m.vittone@uscg.mil

252-334-5355

Thanks for listening