'...about my generation.' I read a very well done article in last week’s Inside Business covering the motivations of new college graduates. The piece was written by Chris Carmon, president, The Carmon Group, and featured an interview with Deborah (Deb) Mills-Scofield, who is a strategy and innovation consultant, a partner with Glengary LLC and a Growth Partner with Baldwin-Wallace’s Center for Innovation & Growth (CIG).
The topic is one that is very important to me personally and to the AKHIA culture. We believe in professional development and work hard to construct individual career paths that are in our employees’ best interest while also supporting the larger goal of the agency and our culture.
Given that it should be no surprise that a key take-away, for me, was that today’s generation is focused on the outcome v. the output, meaning they care more about the impact of their work – not just checking off a to do list. Their loyalty is earned, not bought.
What a great point. And better yet, what great perspective on how we should all be working. Granted, there are times where meeting a deadline might trump the personal satisfaction one might hope to have in the work they produce, but at the end of the day, shouldn’t we all be working toward producing something that 1.) drives results/outcome, 2.) we believe in, 3.) is the best we can do, and 4.) is personally satisfying?
From an agency viewpoint I think clients are the beneficiary of a generation of individuals that truly care about the relationships they form, believe in asking ‘why’ and fighting hard for something they can believe in. After all, that’s the nature of our business. It’s what we do. Companies choose us to represent them because they want us to do it as well or better than they would. They shouldn’t hope we learn their business – they should expect it.
As a manager in an agency it’s my responsibility to ensure this is tangible for today’s generation. In my opinion, this is an attitude that agency’s should always be looking to embrace. And that’s not a Gen Y or Millennial thing – that should be an every generation thing.
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3/21/2011 12:22:34 PM
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