Brazen careerist
Where ambitious young professionals connect and grow
Email
Print
You'd think the obstinate Generation Y would pick a proud/strong George Washington or Teddy Roosevelt, but we are always surprising. Abraham Lincoln seems like the workplace leader of choice for Generation Y.
We recently published a story on PLANSPONSOR.com about which presidents people thought their bosses are most like -- and which presidents they'd like them to be like. The survey by workplace consultants Randstad found that 20% of respondents consider their boss to be a "Dominator," or harbor the speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick attitudes of Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Teddy Roosevelt. Close behind were the 19% who consider their boss to be the "Good Guy" like Washington or Dwight Eisenhower. The findings about Gen Y were pretty interesting, and might suggest that we aren't as hard to please as we are sometimes characterized:
- More than half of employees who expressed an opinion (55%) said they have changed their work style/habits based on their boss’ personality. Gen Y is sometime characterized as having the most trouble relating to their boss, but they answered similarly to Gen X and Boomers (59% versus 57% of Gen X and 55% of Boomers).
- In fact, even moreso than other generations in the survey, Gen Yers (56%) want to posses similar traits as their boss.
- Furthermore, more Boomers (43%) see their boss as lacking people skills than those in Gen Y (32%).
- When shown a list of seven presidents and asked “which president do you wish your boss was most like?” almost one-fifth of Gen Y respondents chose Lincoln.
Why Lincoln? Well he is the played-up president of late, because he is compared to another Illinois-based president Barack Obama, and Gen Y loves Obama. They both rose from the sticks (in Lincoln's case, quite literally). Looking beyond that, there is more to be said for this choice. In the workplace, Generation Y respects leaders who are strong but not domineering. We respect leaders that are idealistic but can also achieve real progress.
If I had been asked, I would choose Lincoln, because he is a representation of what you can achieve in this country without privilege. Of course we also over-romanticize him -- he had quite a few flaws, including racism and chauvinism. If he were alive today, however, I think I'd like the 2009 version of him very much.
For more timely, relevant, and engaging articles,
subscribe to Brazen Careerist.
- How To Find a Writing Partner Who Can Help You Achieve Your Goals and Make More Money
- A New Kind of Business Mover and Shaker
- Why You Might Be Better Off Without a Job After College
- The Anti-Stalker’s Guide for Converting Online Contact into Real World Collaboration
- Continuing Education: Extending Learning Beyond Your Campus Years
Comments
02.16.09
I think it's a smart move to shift your communications style to that of your boss (at work, that is). It's a lot easier to get ahead with your boss on your side.
It also makes sense that Boomers would be more likely to say their boss lacks "people skills." The reason? I believe Boomers' idea of what constitutes "people skills" is a lot different than Gen Y or Gen X. It's been my experience that Gen Xers and Gen Ys appreciate it when you are straight forward and specific with them when there is a problem. Boomers, however, see this tactic as being "not nice." They soften a lot of their language in these situations. Xers and Ys think that the Boomer tactic is "not nice," because we feel like they're trying to make us guess what they're thinking.
02.16.09
@Suzanne - Thanks for the great insight! I totally agree that our communication styles are different. I think it can result in some generational resentment, when both generations are doing what THEY think is right.
02.16.09
I'd be curious how many of the Boomer respondents have a boss who is younger than they are. This is a growing segmentation, of people who have worked their whole lives to get to the mid-level and some young upstart (remember, to Boomers a young upstart might be 42) comes sweeping in and tries to tell THEM how to do the job they've been doing just fine at for 40 years.
For Gen-X and especially Gen-Y there's more of a chance for working for someone older and thus "wise and/or more experienced" than yourself so you want to learn from them. Even though they might never grasp the idea that hitting Control-V will magically move your text around the screens. :)
02.16.09
There is another strong connection between Obama and Lincoln (as well as FDR and Washington) having to do with the character of the society they preside (or presided) over. It doesn't surprise me that Millennials would pick Lincoln. I have written specifically on this topic on my blog at http://www.thegenxfiles.com/2009/02/06/presidential-precedence-obama-is-most-like/
02.16.09
@Elisa
I don't directly manage Boomers but I am higher on the "food chain" at my employer than a lot of the Boomers I work with. They are cool with it, because my boss (the president of our organization) is cool with me. That boost of confidence goes a long way. I also make sure to give them their props just for being on this planet longer than me. When you show them you respect the fact they are older than you, even if you have to boss them around sometimes, they are much more willing to play ball.
I have two people almost the same exact age as me who report to me. Working with Xers is really easy for me. Like a lot of Xers, I hate hierarchy, so I don't take a strong-arm approach with my employees. When I first had to start managing them, I told them the truth: I trust you, I know you know what you're doing, I want to run interferance for you so you can get your stuff done. I can also be very clear and specific with them so we don't have much miscommunication. That means the work is getting done and we're all happy.
02.16.09
@Elisa - Thanks for bringing that up. I was wondering that as well ("who's the boss?"). I think it must be hard to work for someone younger than you in some circumstances, although, being new to the workforce, I have yet to experience it. I wonder if in some cases it can be like the senior who gets benched for the star freshman!
@Dave - Thanks for sending your great analysis to add to this discussion. Although I must say, I'm quite depressed at the idea that we might be in crisis mode for a while......
02.16.09
@Ellie,
I agree that the coming crisis seems ominous, but I am confident that we are up to it (I am an optimistic Gen X'er!). The good news is that the form that the crisis takes is not pre-determined. Although in past cycles they have all been wars (WWII, Civil War, American Revolution..) that does not mean we need to fight to end the crisis. I think it is just as likely that the "battle" will take the form of getting past global warming, peak oil, water shortages or the other nasty scenarios that some predict. The Boomer vision, X'er pragmatism and Millennial idealism and teamwork will see us through. And on the other side of the crisis we will have reformed our society into something more cohesive and resilient. The news you should be worried about is YOUR children, who will probably be the next Prophet generation and will be quite a handful!
Dave
02.16.09
Thanks for this survey, Ellie. The part about Gen Y wanting to emulate the traits of their bosses is really interesting. It shows just how much we, as a generation, look to our elders as teachers and mentors. Being a manager is about getting the most out of your employees, but its also about teaching people to be great at what they do.
Got Something To Say?
Got Something To Say?
Not a Member? Brazen Careerist is a career management tool for next-generation professionals. Set up a free account today to comment on this post and start sharing your ideas. Learn more.
Login to view your networks!
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
