Read more about lining up the best talent and marketing to college students in the ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTOR article by Diane Thielfoldt.

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A Glance at the 4Gs

Recognizing there are multiple generations in the workplace is by no means a revolutionary concept, the idea has been around for over 50 years, yet the challenge to bridge generation gaps still remains. Before we attempt to jump the hurdles associated with bridging a generation gap, lets take a brief (and I mean brief) glance at the four generations.

• Silent (Born 1933-1945): Work hard and speak softly.

• Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964): Live to work.

• Gen X (Born 1965-1976): Work to live.

• Millennials (Born 1977-1998): Work is merely a piece of the puzzle used to change the world.

These, of course, are broad generalizations, but should help you get a sense of the difference in how each generation approaches the workplace. I could write for days (and many have) about only those things that make each generation unique, but let’s not get bogged down in the details just yet. The important message is still to come.

How to Engage the 4Gs with 3Cs

The challenge of bridging the generation gaps among these four very distinct generations begins with engagement. How can you possibly create a workplace that appeals to both the young and the more seasoned, the Boomer and the Xer? As a Millennial manager this challenge seems even larger – how can I get a team of more experienced professionals to respect my role and find satisfaction in their positions? Yet the solution lies in 3Cs.

CULTIVATE THE “RIGHT” CLIMATE

Create a climate that energizes and empowers. It is up to you to break free from being a thermometer (simply reading the climate around you) and become a thermostat (that which impacts and sets the climate), as the workplace climate is a reflection of management tone and priorities.

A Few Easy Tips:

• Respect work style differences.
• Be visible, walk around, say hi, greet peers.
• Keep commitments & appointments.
• Celebrate successes.

CUSTOMIZE COMMUNICATION

The message matters. But so does the method. It is important to know your audience and the best way they are going to receive the message. Do you know your employees’ preferences for communication? Perhaps a text message or a face-to-face encounter? Do you communicate frequently enough? Or too much? Are your methods of communication current and up to date? Taking the time to understand the individual’s communication style can ensure that the message is properly received, sets your employee up for success, and demonstrates your commitment to them as an individual.

A Few Easy Tips:

• Request frequent feedback. Ask: What’s going well? What’s not going well? What can I do to support you?
• Express your appreciation. Tell people they count! At least once a month tell people why and how their work is significant.
• Make sure employees see the link between their work and the organization’s mission, goals, and values. Use positive messages instead of “or else” statements to inspire.
• Connect with people in person.

ENTERTAIN CANDID CAREER CONVERSATIONS

Everyone desires to feel valued. They want to feel engaged, empowered, and needed at work. Coaching is how you meet that need. A successful manager will take the time to have candid conversations with employees about their career opportunities. They will support their career, build a relationship, ask how they’d like to be coached/mentored and take the time to follow through. They commit to valuable contributions, meaningful work and mutual success.

A Few Easy Tips:

• Have career conversations.
• Develop a list of potential projects, challenging assignments and tasks that could enhance their career.
• Develop a training plan for your team that comprehends what skills your team members need now to make sure they are skilled in the future.
• Arrange for a senior leader to meet with employees. Ask them to talk about their own lessons learned and how they have managed their careers.
• Discuss reputations (see What’s in a Name? for more details on personal branding).

The Bottom Line

As a Millennial I have a unique opportunity. We (Millennials) will not be the new kid on the block forever, truthfully we are almost yesterday’s news, but it is an optimal season to learn how to master cross-generational engagement and glean something from those around me. For those who are more seasoned veterans of the workforce these tips still ring true. No matter what generation you were born into, everyone wants to be engaged at work. Now is your chance to help them and maybe even yourself, find the fulfillment they (or you) have been looking for.

Organizations are increasingly complex to navigate and lead. Thriving in a workplace of constant change requires organizational savvy like never before. Therefore, personal branding – how to be yourself with skill – has come to the forefront as a deliberate strategy for managing your reputation within your organization.

A personal brand is how you define and differentiate yourself. Your personal brand is what it takes to prosper and stand out in the midst of ongoing workplace challenges. Just like an organization, every individual has a brand…whether you like it or not. Your challenge is to learn what your brand is, emphasize your strengths, and position yourself to communicate the heck out of it. What makes you better, different, or more special? What differentiates you and your team from others? How does your collective brand align with the organization’s mission, vision and values?

Beyond the Buzzword

The short answer is of course no. Everyone has a brand (whether you are keen to admit it or not). The term personal branding is a pretty hot buzzword being thrown around these days and you are probably familiar with the concept. But for those of you who may not spend your afternoon reading miscellaneous business blogs littered with the newest lingo and for those of us who can always use a refresher, here is a simple definition of personal branding: a self-application form of marketing, where you articulate your value to an audience, with the sole mission to build a reputation and credibility for your niche or idea – essentially, how to be yourself with skill.

As a Millennial business professional I realize just how critical this task is. With a world of possibilities in front of me it is essential to brand myself in such a manner that intrigues future employers, empowers the team around me and sets the tone for my career development. The same is true for you.

However, knowing about this concept and actually using it are two very different things. So this leaves us wondering, “How can I use personal branding to advance my career?” This is an excellent question. While personal branding is an expansive topic and we will not be able to cover everything right here and right now, I want to share a few things that can help guide you when developing your personal brand.

1. Embrace the “Youness” of You

First, do you know what makes you exceptional? A wise man once stated, “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” While the little children who read these words of the trusted Dr. Seuss often wonder, “how can I be anyone but me,” it is scary how often we lose sight of who we are in the midst of the humdrum of everyday adulthood. The first step in developing a powerful personal brand is simply getting to know you.

Ask yourself: What do you stand for? What drives your motivation? What defines success? What do you LOVE to do?

2. Stand Out Above The Crowd

We intuitively know that everyone is different, like snowflakes taking on unique shapes and patterns, yet we are taught from a young age to only focus on similarities so that conflict will not arise. Often we revert back to this habit in the workplace and mute our differences for the sake of corporate culture and not wanting to rock the boat. Yet the truth is everyone has something that marks him or her as a unique asset. Something not limited to a company or position (although certainly something that benefits the organization). Something good. The challenge is to find what differentiates you and how that difference is a strength, not only for your company and team, but for your career. Now is the time to stand out, not to blend in.

 Ask yourself: Why are you different? What makes you better, different, or more special? What makes you unique? What makes you stand out?

3. Marketing Matters

After establishing what you stand for and what makes you stand out, the question remains: “what makes you compelling?” The third element of an effective personal brand lies in your ability to articulate your value. You know what you do for your company better than anyone. You know the intricacies of the work, the role that you play, and how your efforts contribute to the success of your company. Marketing yourself in the workplace may seem shady or selfish but it is critical if you desire to grow your career. Let me suggest a paradigm shift from marketing to markEDing – where your goal is not to sell yourself but to educate your audience about the awesomeness of you. While possibly the most challenging of the three, this is the most important for advancing your career because it involves making connections, knowing your audiences and communicating your value.

 Ask Yourself: What is one thing you have done for your current (most recent) employer that wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t there? In what critical areas do you add value? How does your team and/or organization benefit from your work?

The Light At the End

Using these elements to craft a well-executed personal branding campaign creates a strong, consistent, and specific association between you and the value you offer. To say that creating a brand and living up to it is easy would be a lie. It takes commitment to create, cultivate, and maintain a positive brand but the results far exceed the effort.

Personal branding:

• Is the most effective way to clarify and communicate what makes you different, special, and valuable to employers and customers – and use those qualities to guide your career.
• Is the most effective and innovative strategy you can use to achieve professional success and fulfillment.
• Allows you to clearly communicate the unique promise of value that you have to offer.
• Enables you to leverage what distinguishes you from others with similar skills and abilities.

There is no time to waste. Figure out what you stand for, what makes you stand out, and what makes you compelling. Then craft your personal brand statement – just do it.

Click on the image below to download the PDF file.

Click on the image below to download the PDF file.

Click on the image below to download the PDF file.

It’s easy to neglect acknowledging good work in the fast pace of business. Most managers find themselves managing by exception – paying more attention to what’s not working than to what is going well.

According to a Gallup poll, recognition and praise are among the five most important factors in determining key business benchmarks like employee retention, customer satisfaction, productivity, and profits. In other words, employee recognition is a win-win situation: the employee feels valued and the company benefits from employees who work harder and longer for the company.

Click to download how to take your first steps for employee recognition.

Stay Tuned.