Working with the Y Generation: interview with Dan Pink

As you may know, I am a huge TED fan and I came across Dan Pink as he looked at The Surprising Truth about what motivates us.

The link for his candid talk about managing and working with the Y generation has some interesting points. Being conditioned from the old school, I find myself resisting some of the notions Dan brings to the table. Especially the notion of employer expectations of an employee to conform to the employers pardym. Dan's discussion is summarized into the following:

• Talented people need organizations LESS than organizations need talented people
• Expecting the Y Generation to conform won't work
• Organizations need to win peoples talents
• The old school ways of having companies trade security for employees loyalty is not the currency of Y Gen's.
• Y gen's see a lack of reciprocity in trading security for loyalty and that is why talent leaves
• Employers wonder why employees are disengaged, why the best people don't stick around. The way Y Gen's view the employee employer relationship is that employees offer talent and employers offer opportunity
• Companies lack of opportunity is why talent leaves

Opportunity can some in many forms - collaboration, special assignments, growth, development, experience. If you look at Dan Pinks presentation on motivation, money is not often a good motivator.

A big shift for organizations to digest! Enjoy the video!

Susan