I recently had the pleasure of being a quest writer for Premium Incentive Products: Products and Ideas that Inspire Performance magazine on generational differences and recognition. I love digging into the Gen X and Gen Y minds to really get an understanding of what makes them tick.
As I stated in the article (http://www.pipmag.com/200905gc01.php), “Recognition says to them, I’ve noticed you. I want you to be successful. Make recognition and rewards timely and public, and your Gen X and Y employees will reward you with continuous performance improvement.” This characteristic in the Gen X and Y is due to their strong desire to be successful, fast!
It’s so fascinating when I hear from managers who are frustrated with their Gen X and Y employees because they are asking for feedback – most managers aren’t used to providing immediate feedback, they’re more used to giving instructions on “how-to” at the beginning. Providing immediate feedback enables your Gen X and Ys to adjust, change or excel faster.
Can you see how this could help you or others around you today?
June 25, 2009 at 4:04 pm |
Hi Louise – What a great article! Thanks for publishing the kind of information that shares insights into recognition and incentive techniques, specifically as related to different generations in the workplace.
Just as managers, of any generation, expect immediate results from their employees, it should come as no surprise that employees appreciate more immediate feedback on their performance. One can begin to see this need more clearly if they begin to think about the culture of Gens Y and X and how these generations have grown up in an immediate-feedback world of video games, social networking tools, and technological information resources such as the internet.
I believe anyone of any generation wants to know that his or her manager recognizes high performance and effort. Immediate forms of recognition not only demonstrates appreciation, but creates a high-performance work environment where *everyone* can begin to feel engaged in seeking out those best practices which lead to success.
Again – thanks for the great article on recognition for managers and their employees, generations, best practices!