Generation Y - 3 April 2007

Gen Yers are justlike dolphins. There are four main ways that they're are very similar. Here's how... Intelligence: Dolphins are amongst the most intelligent animals on the planet. Likewise, Gen Yers are the most educated generation in history, which means they get bored in jobs where they're not constantly learning and being challenged. Give them work that's meaningful and that makes a difference. Interaction: Dolphins love human interaction in the same way that Gen Yers value an interactive workplace. Create an environment that fosters teamwork and enables them to frequently interact with their colleagues.

Social: Dolphins live in pods, sometimes forming schools of over one thousand. Even though Gen Yers' loyalty to companies might be diminishing, their loyalty to their peers is increasing. Foster a culture where your Gen Yers are able to build strong relationships with their teammates and their managers.

Independence: Residing in our massive and endless seas, dolphins that aren't in captivity experience true freedom. This is the same kind of independence that Gen Yers crave. Give them real responsibility, don't be bossy, avoid micromanaging, and enable them to have influence over what happens at work.

The United Nations has made 2007 "the year of the dolphin" and the contamination of our waters is threatening their extinction. Likewise, these are the times of Gen Y, and the contamination of our workplaces will determine whether they stay or go. The companies that are able to engage and retain Gen Y employees will become the most successful.

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