Like every generation, Gen Y is subject to its share of myths and stereotypes as it enters the IT workforce. Sometimes painted as privileged, technology-obsessed individuals who avoid face-to-face interaction, Millennial workers actually have many basic needs in common with their more experienced colleagues, including recognition, constructive feedback and a healthy relationship with one's boss. That said, there are some real differences in the communication styles of different generations.
If you're like many of your Generation Y colleagues, you prefer frequent communication with your boss. In fact, in a survey of more than 1,000 21-to-28-year-olds conducted by Robert Half International and Yahoo HotJobs, 60% of workers said they want to hear from their managers on a daily basis. Thirty-five percent of Millennials prefer to touch base with their supervisors several times a day. While Gen Y employees want to work autonomously, they like to know that they are on the right track.
Keeping the lines of communication open is a good thing for any IT department, but your manager may not be able to provide such fast and frequent feedback, especially if he oversees numerous people. Here are some time-tested communication tips that will help you enhance your relationship with your boss:
Be a "model" employee. Study how your supervisor and other high-performing colleagues communicate in the workplace, and model these behaviors as appropriate. You can learn a lot by simply paying attention to office dynamics. Are meetings scheduled weeks in advance, or do they occur spontaneously? Does your manager have a BlackBerry in hand at all times, or does he ask for status updates in person? Most successful IT teams and departments naturally develop their own style of communication over time; your goal should be to observe and adapt to the existing style.
State your style. If you're unsure of what approach will be most effective, express your communication preferences and politely ask your boss to do the same. Chances are you'll find some common ground. Even if a demanding schedule prevents your supervisor from being as accessible as both of you would like, you can still come to an understanding about when -- and how -- to touch base.
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NetScout and analyst Jim Metzler have teamed to deliver a series of IT Briefs on Network and Application Performance Management leveraging research from NetScout's nGenius & Sniffer users.
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