It is an age old dilemma, “my employees don’t care like I do”. You have two choices you can stop growing or figure it out.
There is a lot of research coming out now that says GEN-Z is the problem.
- They don’t want to work.
- They don’t know how to work.
- They’re snowflakes
- We could go on.
The reality is employees have always needed to have meaning in their work. Way back in the day it was developing a craft working alongside the master. As we moved into factory work with it’s mind numbing repetition it was perhaps the better life they could provide their family. Today employees have a lot of needs met. Most won’t starve. How do we inspire them?
With meaning and purpose. Let’s look at the military for a second shall we. Many in our armed forces join because they don’t see another path forward. And yet through training, culture, a sense of mission we have 25 year olds running nuclear engines on carriers!
What is it that they’ve learned that you can learn?
- Give new employees an orientation. This does not need to be a six-month boot camp but it does have to start the assimilation process. The first two companies I sold for each had a 90-day orientation process. It made a difference in the culture and ease of leadership. Everyone knew what was expected.
- Training, people need to know your firm, it’s customers and how they contribute to the success of that relationship. This is probably more than just reading a manual.
- A communication cadence, that is a regularly scheduled set of communications to drive alignment and accountability. This should be more frequent at the beginning of employment.
- The role of the leader or leader of leaders. If you don’t have time to mentor, train, check-in and coach then guess what all of this frustration is your fault.
- A way forward. How can you develop a path for your employees to move forward with new learning, new skills and development? I know one patient account manager that took the time to build 4 levels of patient account rep in the billing office. At each level as they certified they got a small bump in pay , they got recognition and they got a little more autonomy or responsibility.
What will you do? Your employees engagement with your firm is a direct reflection of your leadership.
- https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/business%20functions/people%20and%20organizational%20performance/our%20insights/help%20your%20employees%20find%20purpose%20or%20watch%20them%20leave/help-your-employees-find-purpose-or-watch-them-leave.pdf?shouldIndex=false
- https://www.inc.com/sarahlynch/why-gen-z-workers-are-consciously-unbossing/91001183
