Generation Y is not happy ...

[BadeMillsap]

The link below tags a fairly lengthy article ... BUT I believe it explains a lot about the current status of much of the world ... the US in particular. It IS a generalization and of course not true in all cases ... but ... we see it everyday in many many places ... I'm 61 years old and I do think "some" parents of my generation are responsible for at least some of this ...

Meet Lucy ... she's not happy ...

I really enjoyed the article I hope you (or at least some of you) do as well ...

[atgcpaul]

I'm a Gen Xer. I work with baby boomers, Gen Xers, and GYPSYs. This article nails the GYPSY perspective on life. Gone are the days of "paying your dues". We have GYPSYs who because they've graduated with an advanced degree feel their entitled to the same things the baby boomers or Gen Xers have been working at for years and years. Maybe it's no surprise that the last 2 people I hired are baby boomers.

[chopnhack]

You are special.... just like everyone else!!

I love the advice at the end, sounds like something we have all been told before, no?

[leehljp]

My three girls, (born '73, '77, '83) for the most part were raised overseas away from the US culture, and as a result think more in a "baby boomer" mindset. Wonder where they got that?

My youngest has a tad of "Y" mentality, but not in the "I am special" mode. She was shocked when she came home from Japan to attend college and had a "get aquainted" freshman group session (2002) at her university. She heard all of the "I am special" or "I am exceptional" slogans from most everyone there. She told us then: "Mom, dad, these people are delusional!"

[woodturner]

The link below tags a fairly lengthy article ... BUT I believe it explains a lot about the current status of much of the world ... the US in particular. It IS a generalization and of course not true in all cases ... but ... we see it everyday in many many places

It was an interesting article - and as they say, it must be true since we read it on the internet.

My issue with that article is that it is one person's opinion - it's neither a research paper or a report. The author has apparently inferred from a small anecdotal experience with the fringes of Gen Y that the stereotype represents the whole. In my opinion and experience, that is not accurate.

Some of the students who work the hardest and perform best in my classes are Gen Yers - and some of the boomers don't do well. The "I am special" mentality is not unique to this generation - I was certainly taught that as a Boomer. In addition, what constitutes "special"? It is a subjective term. For example, anyone who completes an advanced degree is, in fact, special. Certainly those who earn Ph.Ds are special and exceptional, given the very small minority of the population able to achieve that goal.

FWIW, what the research shows is that Gen Yers want to know "why" - they want to know why they are doing something rather than just be told to do something. The "because I said so" argument doesn't fly with them - they want to understand why.

Are they really specials? Hard to say, my experience with a hundred or so freshman a year is still anecdotal, but it's clear to me that abilities are improving. Incoming freshman are stronger in math and science than their peers from a few years ago, so they are arguably more "special".

[leehljp]

It was an interesting article - and as they say, it must be true since we read it on the internet.

OK, so since you posted your comments on the internet, it must be true, right!

My issue with that article is that it is one person's opinion - it's neither a research paper or a report. The author has apparently inferred from a small anecdotal experience with the fringes of Gen Y that the stereotype represents the whole. In my opinion and experience, that is not accurate.

Left out was the name "mellenials" which is a generic name for Gen X, Y and in few circles specific to a group outside of those two.

As to your "issue," that is far more than one person's opinion. It is on target from my experiences and readings and from my organization's training dept, and especially along with the professional counselors - long before that article was written. When I was overseas, our organization had 1 couple that were both professional counselors for every 200 members of the organization. In SE and E. Asia, we had about 800 personnel. These professional counselors were exactly that with the power and authority to send a family or individual back to the States or to another country at the drop of a hat if needed. With this in mind, I knew 6 personally. AS a team leader, LOML and I often discussed generational characteristics with the counselors to determine what best way to utilize these younger individuals to their fullest.

One aspect in that "internet generalization article" was that the "y" gen not only wanted to be involved but wanted and all but demanded to do it "their" way. I can't tell you how prevelant this characteristic IS among that group. It is not among my kids and is not so among all, but for many of our younger personnel, we had to prepare for that characteristic. So, NO, it is not absolute, but it is enough that special care and instructions are needed in advance to handle situations and include in training for these individuals. This is done to the extent that they "sign off" on accepting such responsibilities before being allowed to proceed.

Not all X and Y and Millenials fit their stereotype or generalization. However, a personnel department leader is a fool if he dismisses generalizations because of the few that don't fall into that generalization.

Exceptionals such as doctoral students and advanced degrees are just that.

As to you being taught "that" as a baby boomer you were special, this is the first time I have ever heard that. I too, am one. In meeting after meeting with training personnel here in the states, and in overseas training, this is the first time any boomer has said that or a professional trainer/counselor has said that or written that to my knowledge. Boomers are not known for that. Of course, more than likely there were individual families that taught that, but the matter of course is that this is not a normal Boomer characteristic.

In contrast, this is a normal characteristic that was introduced in the late '70s? or early 80's and was common. I heard this from many relatives and friends in the educational field and they did not like it. it is having the repercussions as the article noted.

Some of the students who work the hardest and perform best in my classes are Gen Yers - and some of the boomers don't do well. The "I am special" mentality is not unique to this generation - I was certainly taught that as a Boomer. In addition, what constitutes "special"? It is a subjective term. For example, anyone who completes an advanced degree is, in fact, special. Certainly those who earn Ph.Ds are special and exceptional, given the very small minority of the population able to achieve that goal.

FWIW, what the research shows is that Gen Yers want to know "why" - they want to know why they are doing something rather than just be told to do something. The "because I said so" argument doesn't fly with them - they want to understand why.

It has not been my experience that they want to know "why" nearly as much as "my". I know that you teach "engineering". I worked with individuals with engineering degrees. I LOVED working with these folks. They knew how to work as a "team" far more than our normal personnel. (BTW, about 60% of our personnel had a master's degree or higher.) Since you work in this area (engineering) and have been working in this area for a good while, you may not see the "normal" group of young gen x and y or millenials that others see in a work-for-a-living related situation.

How did I work with them? I maximized their traits by plugging them into situations where "discovery" was everything. Where specific and intensive instructions were needed, they were taken along to "watch" but not too much or they would get bored and either try to take over or quit!

Knowing the GENERALIZED traits are a huge plus in advertisements and personnel deployment. I never put an introvert to lead guest groups coming in and rarely put an extrovert into intensive research. Generalizations, traits, profiling, usually get slammed as stereotyping. When people stop using generalized traits because it is not PC, it does a great disservice to great insights, training and directions. We better believe that major corporations depend upon this very kind of information before they commit to building a major plant or move a corporate office.

[woodturner]

OK, so since you posted your comments on the internet, it must be true, right!

touche'

As to your "issue," that is far more than one person's opinion.

You make numerous good points in your post, and I generally agree. I realize my experience is anecdotal and therefore not indicative of the group as a whole.

With regard to the issue, that's a fair point - in retrospect, my issue was more that the author did not cite sources. In academia, we expect "facts" to be supported and the source referenced, and that perspective tends to color my approach when reading such articles. Fair or not, that is my personal bias.

As to you being taught "that" as a baby boomer you were special, this is the first time I have ever heard that.

Really? That surprises me. Are we maybe just using different language for the same idea? Did your parents teach you that you could do "anything you set your mind to" (one of my parents' common phrases) or did they really teach you there were limits on your capabilities? That's what I meant by "special" and what I inferred was the original author's intent.

It has not been my experience that they want to know "why" nearly as much as "my". I know that you teach "engineering".

That's a fair point, too, that I am an engineer and teach engineers. Those with the engineering mindset are not representative of the general population, and can have very different behavioral characteristics. As I result, I most likely don't see "normal" young people, and in fairness the students have to have exhibited some degree of success and/or uniqueness to even get to that point.

How did I work with them? I maximized their traits by plugging them into situations where "discovery" was everything. Where specific and intensive instructions were needed, they were taken along to "watch" but not too much or they would get bored and either try to take over or quit!

I'm glad there are leaders like you that do consider how best to reach, connect with, and lead different groups.

[leehljp]

. . . we maybe just using different language for the same idea? Did your parents teach you that you could do "anything you set your mind to" (one of my parents' common phrases) or did they really teach you there were limits on your capabilities? That's what I meant by "special" and what I inferred was the original author's intent.

Yes, you are correct in that my parents and teachers said "anything you set your mind to". However, that is different than what was thought to be a good philosophy in the late '70s and '80s. Kids were taught to think that they were the best. They were taught to think that they were "special". Sort of a "mantra" - to the point that if they believed it, then they were. This was taught in a context outside of performance or hard work or practice.

Another word not used so far that I have read on several occasions as a product of this mentality is "narcissism".

Do a google search on "Gen Y and narcissism" and see how many hits you get. Most of the hits will probably use the word "Millenials" for Gen Y. Also, with close scrutiny you can note that many of the hits are news media repeating, particularly with numerous being within a month of each other. Still, the truth of this nature is there.

Clarification: my 2 youngest are in the Gen Y age and are not necessarily like that above. We have Gen Ys here that think for themselves, don't appear selfish (any more than the rest of us at garnering tools ) considerate and not stuck on themselves; they are go getters too. Lots of GREAT people in Gen Y. But there are enough with similar patterns that it can be defined and has to be considered when projects and work come about.

[gerti]

I grew up in Germany, and lived in the States for almost 20 years now. I often contemplate about the differences between the two cultures (not that I prefer one over the other, booth have aspects I like and others that I dislike).

There is one seemingly small difference that I believe has a big impact on society: the age at which most kids switch schools. In Germany kids switch after 4th grade, so at age 10-11. At that age kids make friends easy. That results in very diverse groupings that often last well beyond school.

In the States many kids switch after 6th grade, just at the onset of puberty. At that age they become very aware of their gender, and generally are much less secure about their personality and everything else. As a result cliques tend to form in more artificial ways: less cross-gender, more based on similarities like athletic abilities etc. These groups are much more isolated from each other, and even within those groups there is a lot more competition and less unconditional friendship, mutual respect and support.

I believe that leads to a reduced acceptance and respect for others in general and especially across genders, even later in life. This is based on the simple fact that kids now much less about kids that are different from them.

Now I realize this is a overly simplified argument and not generally applicable. But I do think there is something to it.