Job Help is Coming!

   We are just hours away from being ready to launch a new service offering that will be of benefit to anyone seeking a new career opportunity!  As we promised earlier, we are putting the final touches on some tools that will help individuals who have lost their job and are seeking new career opportunities.

     Stay tuned-- we are just adding the polishing touches to our new service offering!  Once the service offering is released, if you are seeking a new career opportunity, you will want to contact us and begin to find that new career opportunity!

Passion-- The Key To Success

The Key To Success!

     One of our clients addressed why using a small, home town business is always bigger than using a big box store or Internet company.

      Our client addressed passion as the fuel that runs all small business owners-- they are both financially and emotionally invested in their business.  They are able to make the decisions and address the needs of the client without having to get approval or permission from the home office.

       We work with firms of all sizes-- big multi billion dollar companies and small, one owner home based businesses.  Passion drives the successful business owners-- also those that work for large companies-- passion is the key.

         The real question is-- do you have passion for your business and what you do?

Today's Millennial Worker--Are They Really Different?

        It is common for many baby boomer managers and older workers to think, “Just let me do my job, get my time in so that I can retire and get out of here!”  Well, as usual, things are not normally that simple.  Leading the Millennial worker isn’t simple either.

 

            OK, this is not tough, however, you may have to change your mindset and be willing to adapt to change.  Change is hard, but not impossible.  In today’s world, change is the only constant in life.

 

            If you are the manager/leader or co-worker, here are the steps to begin insuring that both you and the new Millennial worker are successful.  After all, it takes all of you to win the battle and the war!

• Step 1—Embrace change, the new environment and the new worker.  It is all that you can do.  Some reading on the Millennial generation, using GOOGLE to find relevant articles can  be a good start.

 

• Step 2-- Have a focused, in-depth discussion with the new Millennial employee during the initial on-boarding process. Ensure that he/she knows the expectations of the firm, i.e., dress, attendance, comportment with colleagues and clients, etc.  And maybe chat a little about the culture of your company.
   
• • Step 3—Listen very, very carefully to the questions that you are asked.  Each question has a point to it—make sure that you know, understand and answer the question.  In some cases, you are not going to know the answer and will have to get back to the employee.  If you say you will do so—DO IT!  This is a time that you are being watched.
     
  • Step 4—Provide the best technology possible.  If the computer you are providing is the old desk top with Windows XP, which will NOT work.  Don’t embarrass yourself or the firm—get the newest, fastest laptop or tablet and give to the new Millennial employee.  He/She will now how to operate it—even if you don’t0—they will.
     
  • Step 5—The “Why” question?  Be prepared to answer and address the “why” question.  Here is one time that you don’t need to be defensive, however, now may be the time to make some real changes because your new Millennial asked Why?  If change is required, do it!  After all, the new millennial has ideas also.
     
  • Step 6—Hours—Most Millennials are used to working lots of weird and different hours.  Does it really make any difference, as long as the job gets done?  Do you have to have everyone outside the door so that you can see them?  These are all deep, penetrating thought questions; however, the prima facie answer is usually, not always.  If someone wants to work a weird shift, as long as the work is done and done well, do you care?  Think about this answer—it is not as hard as you may think; however, it is easier than you may think also.  Remember, the Millennial worker wants responsibility as well as respect.  Give it to them; you will receive it back exponentially.
     
  • Step 7- Mentorship—This is one of the key  expectations that a new Millennial employee is seeking—mentorship.  This takes work—focused dedicated effort on your part as the supervisor; however, the results are well worth the time involved!  I have always made new employees develop a 5 year rolling  “game plan” focusing on the following areas:
     

  
  

• Career

• Family

• Fun/Recreation

• Spiritual

• Financial

 

This can be a rolling 5 year Gantt chart.  The key is to have some specific focus areas with defined goals that both you and the employee can review.  This works well—try it!

 

• Step 8- Reflection and Review.  If you do all of the above steps, you will find that you have a new Millennial employee who has an attitude of gratitude for you, your company and the industry in which you work.  And you’ll have a very productive employee as well!

 

 

Leaders must create the organizational environment for success. Meeting the Millennial worker’s expectations  are fundamental to having success with Millennial generation employees. 

Fun is the key to success!

     We recently spent part of the week at a function in College Station, Texas-- the home of Texas A&M University!

      No matter where we went, what ever functions and events we attended, everyone was enjoying themselves and having fun!  Now, this is Texas and fun is a key part of being in Texas.  However, here is what we observed-- it made no difference if we were watching the Masters in the Bar, The Chi Omega had a 40 year reunion (they did), the Nuclear Engineering Society was having a national conference (they were), the disabled society was having a dinner in which everyone wore a blindfold to emulate how it looks when you don't have eye sight-- everyone seemed to have a great time.

       We were there to attend an honor's banquet for the Industrial and Systems Engineering department at Texas A&M.  This event attracted 180 individuals-- alumni, faculty, emerti faculty, retired faculty, students, both undergrads and graduate students, post doctoral researchers, everyone!  Everyone was excited to be a part of the event.

       One of the fun places to have lunch or dinner was at Mickey's Sliders.  If you have not been there, go!  You will have fun.  Talk to Miller, the manager!  Miller is a great dude-- and can he make sliders!  Check it out!