Along with most people on the Internet, I recently watched this video.
Of course, you have to take it with a grain of salt because you can’t simply paint “the Millennial issue” with such a broad brush. Of the four areas he visits – parenting, technology, impatience, and workplace – technology and workplace were the two that got my attention.
After watching, I had the following conversation with the friend who shared the video with me.
As for devices, assuming people can agree that the way devices suck up people’s attentions is not only annoying but can also lead to problems. For example, in a meeting without a “no device” rule, with important matters on the table, a number of people are not fully engaged in the discussion because they are distracted by their devices. Decisions get made, assignments are made, but less than optimal outcomes result from less than focused attention and efforts. Maybe a deadline is missed, or maybe a contractual loophole is left open, or maybe a forecast is off by more than significant digits, or whatever. Bottom line is that there are negative consequences that could have been avoided.
Ok, so the company decides to do something about it. (No different than realizing that something should be done to prevent impaired people from causing traffic accidents.) They implement a “no device” policy that dictates when devices can be present/accessible and when not.
Good start.
On the same day the policy goes into effect, their IT department rolls out a new mandatory internal messaging app that allows upper-level management to communicate all the way down the chain because they feel the need to be able to keep everyone apprised in real time of the latest management directives…so much for the “no device” policy because as soon as you have exceptions everything sooner or later becomes an exception.
Ok, maybe that’s improbable. This is not: with the Internet of Things (IoT), technology is trying to make every aspect of our first world lives device accessible. Sooner enough, it will be anachronistic to physically turn on a light with a switch. Isn’t it a bit terrifying to consider the possibility of every thing in your home (garage door, dishwasher, shower water temperature, etc.) being controlled by a device that you can drop in the toilet?
This begs the question: how the hell are we ever going to overcome the psychological impact of device addiction when there is no control over the supply?
If you don’t mind, Dave, let me bounce this back to you. What are some of your thoughts and strategies for dealing with this – not just as it is front of you today, but also as you see it as a part of our future?
Again, thanks for sharing and giving me something else to think about today!
He sent me the following:
I am fortunate to have made my career in the non-profit, free-choice, world (zoos, aquariums, museums) where I usually manage energetic, passionate, early-career, younger adults. I liked this video because it puts a reality back on the executive teams of organization to realize the opportunities afforded to employers when hiring, training, coaching, and mentoring Millennials (instead of just complaining about how difficult it is to work with them…).
This video says to me… “Shut up, old man! and realize that you can help these people not only be better employees, but live more fulfilling lives…”
So…rather than just considering individual policies, I’m considering the entire milieu…
I ask myself “How can I instill a sense of human interaction and cooperative communication in a tech-reliant workforce?”
“What activities can I develop for cooperative and team effort, that will require sustained effort AND show impact in the community?”
“How can I lead by example of positive, supportive, authentic, communication in my work relationships?”
The cell phone in meetings question is just a symptom of the underlying issue. (We do not permit them at family dinners unless requested to research the answer to a question. I think I want to work to an environment where people GLADLY leave their cell phones on their desks…rather than bring them to meetings. This will happen when meetings become more meaningful (read Lencioni’s 5 Dysfunctions of a Team) and people interact with genuine thoughtfulness, because it will be MORE REAL than a text, Instagram, Facebook like, etc.
Those are my initial thoughts.
I think it might also be useful to suggest/challenge younger people to take leadership initiatives in their work environments to suggest these things rather than waiting to be told to do them.
Wrapping up, I see this less as a Millennial issue and more of an all-of-us issue. We all must come to grips with technology – both at home and at work – and anyone who works must participate in moving the workplace forward.
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