Kevin Kelly’s Blog

Twentysomethings are changing jobs every 18 months according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

This is a very revealing statistic – it shows that companies are doing a very poor job at retaining Generation Y’s.

Why?

Lack of high trust culture in which Gen Y’s can flourish

Disconnnect between employers/ managers and employee – Gen Y strive for significance, want to work for a company that makes a real and measured difference in people’s lives – employers look for employees! This disconnect is also manifest in the lack of an authentic relationship between manager and direct line employee. Remember Gallup research has shown that the most important relationship in any organisation is the one with your direct line manager. Positive management will have a significant impact on employee turnover.

On the other hand considering that time it takes to seek out new positions, complete the interview process etc, it appears that the Gen Y are thinking about leaving before they even start – why bother atall?!!

Technorati Profile

“There is no contest between the company that buys the grudging compliance of its workforce, and the company that enjoys the enterprising participation of its employees.”
Ricardo Sempler.

“You see things and say why, but I dream things that never were and I say
WHY NOT!”

– George Bernard Shaw

This is the quotation that has become my mantra as a motivational speaker.

S is for sophisticated customer, a person who knows the difference between a genuine and artificial sales approach.

A is for Authentic and Attitude. If you approach every sales situation with the right attitude, where your focus is on providing the customer with real value; you are half way there.

L is for listening. Remember customers crave for attention, so active listening will help build rapport. Some of my greatest contracts as a motivational speaker, and marketeer in the past were secured by a 95% listening/ 5% talking approach.

E is for providing the customer with a real experience. When you are competing with thousands of aliens for a person’s attention, you will need more than raw facts to secure the deal. Like all good companies build experience into the brand. Being a motivational speaker it is incredibly important that my events are more than just a talkshop; they are a true experience for participants.

Success will be down to the person learning from every interaction, and not repeating failed patterns of the past. Warning – don’t fall into the insanity loop where you continue to repeat the same pattern over and over again expecting a different result!