Spring has sprung at last (at least in the Eastern region – sorry Alberta/Manitoba!) and with it, new opportunities. 2008 has kept me busy as my work on generational change continues to grow and take me down new paths. I have been working with several healthcare organizations as of late who are struggling with issues of employee retention and development - as they search for ways to inspire, motivate and empower their employees, a common theme is miscommunication between the generations – and how it negatively affects productively and morale.
My second book deals with this issue in depth. Titled: The Changing Face of the Workplace it helps employers navigate the hiring and retaining of Generation Y, provides tools for developing them as leaders in the workplace and in their communities, and strategies for creating strong partnerships amongst co-workers of different generations. The issue of employee retention and motivation is a highly-researched area, as hundreds, if not thousands of books and consultants in the area all claim to have a magic formula for employee development. But here’s a secret - there is no such magic formula! If there was we wouldn’t still be talking about it. My approach doesn’t depend on a magic formula, rather I teach employers how to evaluate their workplace gaps and employee leadership development needs to create the program that works best in that particular environment. It’s about raising awareness and applying what works best in your particular workplace or situation.Being able to motivate and retain your employees is not about being able to follow a formula created by someone sitting at a desk thousands of miles away from your workplace – rather, it requires creative and forward-thinking HR professionals and managers to empower their employees with the tools to understand generational differences, and strategies for healthier communication methods.
For more information visit www.newgenerationgap.com. Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter, please feel free to send your comments and questions to info@michelledagnino.com
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Technology has always been a constantly evolving part of the world and part of the workplace. So why do we keep hearing more and more about how important it is to Generation Y and why we need to pay attention to it in order to keep our business running smoothly and our employees happy? To begin with, Generation Y is the first generation that has truly been born and grown up in the global world where connecting and staying in touch with friends and family has been a part of who they are their entire lives. The generations entering today’s workforce expect to have the latest technology at their fingertips and adjust easily to new trends and products. Their ipods and cell phones are like appendages to them and taking them away would be akin to cutting off a limb. So what does this have to do with the workplace? What role will technology play in the workforce of the next decade? How will it impact how we conduct our business? How can we use it to our advantage? These are just a few of the questions that we must ask ourselves in this digital climate. |
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Lupe Fiasco is a brainy Kayne-style rapper, whose debut album was filled with positivity and musical explorations, including the laid-back skateboarding anthem, “Kick, Push.” His follow-up, The Cool, was labelled as a concept album about gangsta life. But in truth, only four songs address that story line —the bulk of this CD develops his earlier themes of good beats and politics. Want self-righteous anger? See ''Dumb It Down,'' where he imitates fellow rappers and white execs urging him to get crass (''Pour champagne on the b---- !'' he bellows satirically). Want blistering social commentary? Check out ''Little Weapon,'' which conflates videogame violence with the real stuff. Want wistfulness? ''Fighters'' laments that ''when the fighters are all around, all the lovers are underground.'' Want bubblegum? Head to the album's climax, the goofy, girl-crazy ''Go Baby Go.'' Overall, The Cool is fevered, fierce, and at times furious, but so is Lupe Fiasco, and the album easily earns its spot as one of the top 10 CDs of 2007 |
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Organization Spotlight – YOUCAN YOUCAN is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to building a culture of peace among youth. Their vision is to foster "a nation where all youth work in partnership with their communities to grow in peaceful and conflict resolving lifestyles." Their core objectives are to:
YOUCAN was founded due to a need for a youth led organization that focused on developing solutions for youth issues. It strives to promote a message of non-violence in our communities and our schools. YOUCAN is committed to focusing on peaceful conflict resolution, the prevention of violence and consensus building through youth led initiatives. YOUCAN assists youth in exploring the connection between conflict resolution and violence prevention. This, combined with training workshops, forums and national conferences provide youth with the skills and knowledge to make a real difference in our communities by developing "Youth Taking Action" plans. These plans allow for youth empowerment by challenging youth to identify the most current issues they face in their schools and create solutions to address them. For more information visit: http://www.youcan.ca/ |
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Project Spotlight: READY...SET...ENGAGE A great document on youth engagement practices, New Mentality, a project of Children's Mental Health Ontario, partnered with the Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement to produce READY. SET. ENGAGE! guide about effective practices for youth engagement. It explores:
It is available at: http://www.onthepoint.ca/kec/documents/ Ready_Set_Engage.pdf |
