The Millennials Are Coming!

Morley Safer broke the news on CBS in November, The Millennials Are Coming!http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3486473n I don't know what to say except, "I'm sorry." Everything Mr. Shafer observed on 6o Minutesis true; and, well, its partly my fault.

Perhaps if I give you a little historical perspective it will help you understand why I feel apartially responsible for the issues todays companies are facing as a new generation of workers begin their professional lives. It really began in the late sixties and early seventies when America became a transient society. No longer was there an opportunity for children to observe a varity of parenting skills in a communal setting. We moved away from our families and our tight knit neighborhoods and the result was a generation without strong parenting role models. By the late eighties and early nineties we were faced with a parenting generation who were without a strong sense of what it meant to parent.

Who did they turn to for guidance? The authorities--pediatricians, teachers, and parent educators. It wasn't a bad decision. They were given the best advice the field had to offer--the cutting edge theories of the time. Those issues included self-esteem building that typically translated noncompetition and universal reward practices; equity education which tended to shift focus back to self-esteem and the practice of universal rewards; and portfolio assessment which typically translated to focusing on individual growth rather than performance against the group that amazingly enough tied to equity education that low and behold ultimately tied to self-esteem. Are you detecting a pattern here?

I was one of the "experts" to whom parents turned. When they asked my advice, I promoted the concept of noncompetitive environments that rewarded children for simply showing up, after all we wanted to promote self-esteem. I led the charge defining acceptance and the many facets of encouragement. I am the one who told parents they needed to advocate for their child's best interests. The result of the advice given to parents by myself and a myriad of other well meaning education and child development experts? I'm proud to say its a generation with a very strong sense of self. Unfortunately, it is also a generation who was never really given an opportunity to experience the failure that fosters wisdom. Furthermore they are partnered with their own highly trained advocates who have no qualms about asserting their wings via telephone, email and even at times in person. You haven't just gained an employee, you've gained a mother.

However, there is good news. What works at four, works at fourteen and twenty-four. The techiques we used in classrooms to build community can translate to the boardroom. If you're willing to give it a try. So roll up your sleeves, and instead of attending an effective management workshop attend a parenting class. You'll be amazed what you discover about yourself, your children ..oh and your new employees.