Download Career Ladder: Move Up the Rungs the Right Way Sponsored by

Career Ladder: Move Up the Rungs the Right Way
March 16, 2012
Sponsored by NCSL Young
Professionals
Why is this important to a YP like you?
 YPs should understand how other generations
think ––they are making job decisions for you: title,
position, salary, duties.
Betty Lochner, M.Ed.
• Communication skills coach & trainer
• Generational differences
• Conflict skills
• Working to strengths
• Building teams
• Performance coaching
• Author: Dancing with Strangers:
Communication skills for transforming your life at work and home
www.cornerstone-ct.com
Why we need to improve our
communication across generations
70% of our communication efforts are:
•misunderstood
•misinterpreted
•rejected
•distorted
•not heard
Understand the Generation Gap:
 Learn to match & pace
 Small things make a big difference
Traditionalists (1922-43)
Baby Boomers (1943-1960)
Generation X (1960-1980)
Millenials/Gen Y (1980-2000)
Traditionalists in the Workplace




Traditionalists (1922-43)
Are loyal to employer
Expect loyalty in return
Good interpersonal skills
Believe promotions, raises and
recognition should come from
tenure
 Measure work ethic on timeliness,
productivity, and not drawing
attention
Boomers in the Workplace
 Strong work ethic
 Hard work measured in hours
 Believe teamwork is critical to
success
 Believe relationship building is
important
 Expect loyalty from those they
work with
Baby Boomers (1943-1960)
Gen Xers in the Workplace
 Want open communication
regardless of position, title,
or tenure
 Respect production over
tenure
 Value control of their time
 Look for a person to whom
they can invest loyalty, not
company
Generation X (1960-1980)
Millenials in the Workplace
Millenials/Gen Y (1980-2000)
 Want an individual to help them
achieve their goals
 Want open, constant
communication and positive
reinforcement from their boss
 Work well with traditionalists
 Want a job with great personal
fulfillment
 Search for ways to shed stress in
their lives
..
Generation X (1960-1980)
&
Millenials/Gen Y (1980-2000)
(young professionals)
may fail to actively listen to
Traditionalists (1922-43)
&
Baby Boomers (1943-1960)
Traditionalists and Boomers
Don’t challenge or question status quo.
Xers and Millenials: Taught to speak up.
Feedback Style and Impact
Feedback styles that may appear informative and helpful to
one generation might seem formal and “preachy” to another.
Feedback that a young professional thinks is immediate and
honest can seem hasty or even inappropriate to other
generations.
Some older generations have been told that there is a time
and place for feedback. Younger generations haven’t
necessarily been taught this “rule.”
Successful Mixing
Requires Better Communication
 Generational conflicts are based primarily on
unspoken assumptions and unconscious criteria.
 Anticipate conflicts and pull them out into open
(talk about them)!
MATCH
RAPPORT
PACE
INFLUENCE
Critical success factors
Tip #1
of all Communication is non verbal
38% Tone
55% Visual
7% Verbal
Tip #2
Play to Your Strengths
 Individuals that play to their strengths are more engaged in
their work and achieve greater results.
 You will contribute the most to the team when you offer up
your strengths.
 Each person's greatest room for growth is in the areas of
his/her greatest strength.
Tip #3
PAUSE!
TIP #4
SEEK FIRST TO
UNDERSTAND
THEN TO BE
UNDERSTOOD.
St. Francis of Assissi
Tip #5
Shovel while the
piles are small!
Small things count!
Micro-connects
Micro-disconnects
Positive connections







Avoid distractions
Use open body language
Use eye contact
Remember names
Greet people (look up, smile)
Apologize when appropriate
Say “please” and “thank you”
Use appreciation and feedback
– Be respectful
– Give regular, positive feedback
– Catch someone doing something good
– Do it often
– Remember small things make big
differences
23
CARING STRAIGHT TALK
Tough on issues
&
Tender on people!
–
–
–
–
–
Pause!
Say: “Tell me more!” (“Help me to understand”)
Listen with every bone in your body.
Find a way to understand:
- their facts,
- their feelings, and
- their perceptions.
Reward the feedback!
PRESENT MOMENT FEEDBACK
Ask: May I give you some feedback?
1. This is what I am experiencing…
2. This is what I am feeling...
3. This is what I am wanting…
Describe what you want
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
What does it:
Look like?
Sound like?
Feel like?
How you can improve
 Self-awareness
 Assess your skills
 Training
 Practice
Valuing Differences
 Information flows in all directions in a
learning organization.
 Successful leaders find a way to let
every generation be heard.
Many Young Professionals Don’t Think Long-Term
1) Where do you see yourself in 5 yrs?
2) What skills do you most enjoy using?
3) What experience would you like to gain?
4) What skills would you like to develop?
5) What do you like most about doing this work?
6) If you could make any change, what would it be?
7) Do you see yourself as an important part of this organization?
8) Would you like to lead people?
9) In which areas do you need to develop in order to get the
position you want?
10) How do you prefer to be managed?
11) How can I best help you to reach your potential?
Betty Lochner, M.Ed.
• Communication skills coach & trainer
• Generational differences
• Conflict skills
• Working to strengths
• Building teams
• Performance coaching
• Author: Dancing with Strangers:
Communication skills for transforming your life at work and home
www.cornerstone-ct.com
Thank you!
For more information on this webinar or upcoming YP events, email
[email protected]