Don't blame Millennial's. Keep up !

When the Who sang about My Generation it was a rebellious angst driven blast at the lack of understanding by the older generation about what was happening and the fact that they just "didn't get it"

So what was "it"?

Well I've read a couple of versions about the songs origin. Pete Townsend is reported to have written the song after being inspired by the Queen Mother who was alleged to have his hearse towed off a street in Belgravia as it offended her on her daily jaunt around town.

Later, Townsend is also reported as saying when Roger Daltry sang " I hope I die before I get old" that by "old" they meant rich, so perhaps the origins were based on fear that maybe you don't have long to do what you want before you are expected to be rich in knowledge, standing and experience?

Now the reason That Learning Dude is writing about this tonight is I have just read an article in the Wall Street Journal about how companies are beginning to bend over backwards in order to retain the skills and talents of Millennial's (GenY) by offering a number of additional perks that accommodate faster promotions and greater responsibilities.

 Now there is a business case to address that has plenty of data to show that within the next eight to ten years as much as 40% of the workforce in the USA will consist of millennial's so of course a business is going to get a bit panicky and many CEO's recite the well trodden line that indicates they have no choice to bow to demands in order to retain the top talent.

In one company a number of exit interviews conducted to try and understand why turnover was so high reflected that there was too much bureaucracy, not enough comms, lack of fun or use of talents and little in the way of flexible hours.

Other data critical to support a business points to what millennial's bring to the modern day office. For a start they have fresh skills and in most cases tech savvy. They will be socially connected and more collaborative and also likely to be more culturally and racially diverse. Not a bad CV  before they even start but it is easy to see why older workers could be disgruntled when exhibit A starts on the Monday and already has 300+ friends, follows (not stalks) 600+ individuals and organisations and is connected to 250+ people which in the grand scheme of first, second and third connections gives them a network of a squillion people from Alaska to Auckland !! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Data zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Nothing new. Really, it's nothing new, there has been and always will be a gap between generations and as the older generation will always know better from past experience where as the current generation will always know better from future preferences. The fact the Who sang about wanting to die before they get old was a cry to avoid the handover point when they have to communicate with that generation to say give me the knowledge you have so I can progress and that is where the clash happens.

Millennial's are sometimes criticized for being impatient but surely that comes from a lack of understanding of things like how they like to communicate i.e. fast paced, social and virtual.

Seek first to understand, then be understood - Covey.

So here is the thing, I'm Gen X (happy at that as it sounds cool in a Billy Idol style) but I can't be critical and dismissive of something I know nothing about, I need to embrace the way millennials learn and want to communicate, but The Who said "don't try to dig what we all say" therefore it is not about trying to be like them and suddenly getting down with the kids, wearing your baseball cap in whatever the current jaunty fashion is.......that would be waaaaaay too uncool for skool. (sorry was that too hip?)

So here is the thing, if you are that person that is complain about the next generation up getting more opportunity than you,  what are you doing to keep up with the world? Sorry if that is being direct, i'm not trying to cause a big sensation, just talking about my generation !

That Learning Dude - Follow @LearningXDude