by Phillip Fernandez

Wizard Business Consulting

When we are  communicating particularly with Gen X and Y, we must continually pique the interest of the listener as the average attention span has been declining. There is little point reeling off numerous details as the short-term memory has the capacity to only recall just 5 to 9 items (Psychologists George Millar 1956). Therefore in communicating remember the Primary Effect (points made in the first minute) and the Recency Effect (points made last or most recent things heard) will be the parts of the communication remembered most.

Most people today are a combination of kinesthic/visual learners, which means that they learn best through doing. experiencing and being involved. Gen X and Y are no exceptions as surveys showed  80% of students preferred this type of learning.

Any communicator or trainer to be effective today needs to be creative, passionate and engaging. So there are three points I want to touch on.

1)  Structure your communication and training to staff by asking yourself three questions. What do I want them to Know? What do I want them to Feel? What do I want them to Do?

2) Use your personal experiences to help connect with them. They`ll value the transparency and insight unto your own journey.

3) It is a post-literate generation. For improving communication use: real life examples, stories, metaphors, humour, role-plays, 
music, and visual aids (photos, videos, props etc.)

We also need new  leadership paradigms to win over them over. These young people have grown up with leaders stating one thing but living another. This generation has seen the demise of big Australian companies due in part to character flaws in the management and lived through long running political sagas. Hence no wonder they have developed their own ethical & moral boundaries.

The mentors they are looking for need to be authentic and walk the talk. They need to understand the different generations’ core values.

Baby boomers want the loyalty, respect, commitment and ethic they have demonstrated to be shown back to them

Gen X & Y want a workplace that they can belong, which is stress-free, social, a warm friendly workplace, which values the environment, people and socio-economic concerns, even before profit.

To provide a workplace culture that uses `team` language, develop fun traditions and tell them regularly that they are valued and supported.

A Stereo-type is that that Gen Y and younger Gen X have no loyalty. It is true that they are brand fickle and show little or no loyalty to a company. However, they demonstrate strong loyalty to their friends and others to whom they feel they can trust. So they are looking for leaders that can include, connect and unite.

Few have an ideal family background today, and many are delaying a family of their own, so Gen y and even Gen X are looking for new families in their friends, workmates and their company.

Life today is non-partitioned and more holistic. Therefore it is less differentiating between work and social life and the values between these two arenas. Therefore the employer needs to not only look at their role-fit based Competence, but also on their Culture fit and that their Character fits their values and that of the company.

If you are experiencing difficulty in this area please feel free to email me or give me a call to make a 2 hour complimentary appointment at your convenience.

P: 1300 747 389
M: 0402 213 813
E: phillip@businesswizards.com.au
W: Wizard Business Consulting