8 Tips for Gen Y’s to Empower Yourself Through this Economic Storm

(1) Talk It Out – Don’t Just Quit!
One of the biggest obstacles I see is that when conflicts occur, people keep their frustrations to themselves or worse, start backstabbing at work. This creates a toxic office culture and solves nothing! Be courageous and if you’re frustrated with your boss or fellow employees, have the guts to speak to them directly.  Voice your frustrations. Listen to how they perceive the situation, and try coming up with solutions. The reality is, conflicts will happen at all jobs. The conflict is not the problem it’s the manner in which it’s handled that is often the problem. Don’t just quit- use conflict as a “character-building opportunity” (I know it’s something that a parent would say but it really is true). Quitting is simply the easy way out – not the best way!

(2) Ask - Don’t Demand
This is one of my favourite simple tips. When people demand (even in the nicest tone) it often comes across with an attitude of entitlement and can really rub people the wrong way. Instead of saying ‘I need to have Friday off to go to a doctor’s appointment” try saying “I need to schedule a doctor’s appointment – is it ok if I can take some time off on Friday?” Making requests in the form of a question comes across as being much more respectful to older generations.

(3) Find a Mentor
I’m convinced that one of the best strategies to not only make ourselves more employable, learn great skills but also to deal with generational gaps is mentoring! X, Boomer & Traditionalist managers have been around longer, they have an incredible amount of wisdom and experience to share with Generation Y’s but here’s the trick – Gen Y’s have to take the initiative! Managers are busy so don’t expect them to pursue you and maintain this relationship. Gen Y’s need to take the lead, and you’ll be surprised how many managers are thrilled that someone is asking them for their advice!

(4) Ask & Manage Expectations for Feedback
If you need more feedback (which I often hear from Y’s) tell your boss – but again phrase it as a question, not a demand. Ask how often you should expect feedback to help manage your own expectation. One Gen Y I coached told her boss “I really want to do a great job for you. So the more I know how I’m doing the better I will be able to meet your expectations. What is a realistic expectation I should have in terms of feedback? Monthly? Quarterly? Annually?” 

(5) Be Appreciative. Get Real Cards!!!
One of the most basic needs all people have, regardless of their generation, is the need to be appreciated! When you appreciate something that your boss, your manager, or your fellow colleagues has done – don’t just tell them or drop them a thank you email – buy personalized stationary and mail them a card! Set yourself apart. Make a statement and voice your appreciation! Gen Y’s may prefer to receive a thank you via technology, but remember who you are talking to – older generations often prefer the ‘good old fashioned’ way (in person, over the phone, in a card), and they will appreciate your effort.

(6) Challenge Yourself
Don’t wait for your employer to provide ongoing training.  Take the initiative and seek further training for yourself. Take leadership courses. Advance your skill base.  Meet for coffee / lunch with wiser and more experienced colleagues and learn from them. The more you do, the more you learn, and the more employable you become.

(7) Be Open to Feedback, Even If It Hurts
Sometimes feedback hurts. When we received negative feedback we often get defensive and dismiss it, especially if the communication of this feedback was poorly handled. But ask yourself if there is any truth in the feedback. Try to be objective. Ask people around you that you trust and respect what they think.  Then ask yourself, what can you learn from this? What can you do differently? How can you use this experience to help you progress?  The only way we will move forward if we are striving for excellence is being willing to hear and learn from feedback, both positive and negative.

(8) Think Big Picture & Volunteer
Often Gen Y’s will tell me that they don’t want to volunteer; after all, they have skills and degrees that seem ‘so much better’ than volunteer positions.  But this is a shortsighted perspective. Volunteering is such a simple strategy to get ones foot in the door of a company you want to work for. It builds relationships (and lets face it, so much of business is networking), increases confidence, and provides new skills to be learned. Volunteering may seem like a short term loss in terms of time invested, but is often a huge long-term gain (which is the heart of discipline and delaying gratification). You might be further ahead in the long run by seeking out volunteer positions in the field you really want to be involved in, even if it means working for less money while you try to get your foot in the door. Think big picture not just about today!