The 5 fears that prevent senior leaders from enjoying Gen Y

I am convinced that the quality of our life is directly proportional to the quality of our relationships, and it is not uncommon for our relationships to suffer when we are afraid or feel threatened by another person or group of people.

As I travel the country, I hear questions and comments from Baby Boomers who are somewhat critical … they criticize Generation Y for their high expectations, for being able to get the job done quickly and then wanting to get started. early or because of Gen Y’s casual attitudes about dress and formal communication.

As a leadership consultant, when I hear a complaint, I tend to look much deeper, because when there is a complaint, it usually stems from a fear or value that is being charged or violated. As I delved into this topic, I discovered that there are 5 very common fears that seem to prevent senior leaders from enjoying their Gen Y colleagues, and they are:

1) Fear of technology. As we all know, Gen Y is the most tech-savvy generation out there today. They can be surpassed by Gen Z (or the next generation). But for now, they are certainly dominating the tech savvy field, while many Baby Boomers are still trying to figure out how to send an email or text message. If you are a senior leader and afraid of technology, it is up to you to train. There are dozens of courses offered across the country on all tech skills under the sun, so if this applies to you, continue your own continuing education.

2) Fear of job loss. As our Gen Y professionals gain more knowledge and skills, there will come a time when people who can no longer perform will be asked to retire early. This is how the world works, but it’s not really an excuse to insult Gen Y or feel threatened by their skill set. It is time to embrace this generation and step in as senior leaders and share our wisdom with them.

3) Fear of looking foolish. This is a fear everyone experiences at some point in their lives, yet there is nothing more disconcerting to some senior leaders than someone half their age has “brought them out” in front of their peers. And guess what … Gen Y isn’t trying to show off their top leaders. Just past. If you’re a leader, it’s up to you to admit when you don’t know something and be excited to have a Gen Y on your team that can answer that question. Leaders are only as strong as the people they surround themselves with, and I think it’s time to start surrounding ourselves with young men and women from Gen Y and Gen Z. They are our future and they know a lot, but you won’t know this if You keep them at bay

4) Fear of optimism. Yes … I know this sounds strange, but many senior leaders are downright pessimistic and hearing Gen Y’s optimism scares them like silly. Many remind me of Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh … “It’s a beautiful day and I’m going to get sunburned!” I know times are tough and we are heading into a recession, but we need Gen Y’s optimism right now. We need your creativity, networks, and bright spots to help us get through these times.

5) Fear of change. The fear of change is something that all humans experience, but the older we get, the more we tend to stand up and stand still. This world is changing, and Millennials are bringing us new ideas, a new worldview, a positive view of diversity, innovation, and a way forward that may not look like what it was 20 years ago … and that’s fine! We are here to evolve and grow, and Generation Y will lead us in that direction. If you live in fear of change, I encourage you to reach out and work with a coach on this topic. It could be the only thing stopping you from building a great relationship with the Millennials in your life.

Today, if you are someone living with any of these fears, I recommend that you take the time to write down your thoughts about these fears and how they may be interfering with your relationships with your Gen Y employees and colleagues. They are our future. , and it’s time to start working with them … without resisting their efforts.