Leveraging Video to Increase Employee Engagement
 Rewind
I was a high school business teacher and coach in Phoenix when my son, Zachary, was born in May of ’84. Zac was to be my parents' first grandchild, and they lived in Denver. To them, the thought of driving to Phoenix (or, God forbid, actually flying there) was beyond comprehension, but I wanted to make the event real for them just the same.
One morning I spotted a newfangled invention in the morning paper dubbed a ‘video camera,' and I rushed to the electronics store for a demonstration. The two-piece VCR unit weighed ten pounds and required bright lighting, a long connection cord, and an engineering degree from MIT to operate. It took almost every dime of my savings, but I was the first on my block to own a video camera. Most importantly, I was able to capture the first few moments of Zac’s life on a video tape and mail it back home to my parents. Three days later they called to say the package had arrived and that they were bringing it to the home of a ‘well-to-do’ neighbor who owned a VCR and had offered to let them watch it on his set.
 Play
On January 9th, 2009 at 7:00am CST in Austin, TX, my first grandchild, Jovi Cate Schaub, was born. At 7:10am, 23 of my closest friends and family had received an email containing a video of Jovi’s first breaths. The raisin-box-sized video camera (FlipVideo) used to capture the miracle of Jovi weighs 5 ounces, requires only normal room light, is powered by two double-A batteries, and captures digital video that is vastly superior to the big, bulky unit I used for Zac’s birth in 1984. It also features a pop-out USB drive that transfers the digital video to a laptop and immediately uploads the file into a click-and-send email format. This new technology makes video so simple it’s hard to believe this camera cost less than $150. (A “high def” model is now available for slightly more.)
 Fast Forward
I predict that Jovi will know how to use a video camera before she enters preschool. It will be as natural to her as brushing her teeth and she’ll never feel awkward or at a loss for words when someone points a camera in her direction. Non-professionally produced video will always be an integral part of how she receives information and communicates with others.
The implication for employers is clear.
Where you and I may not want a lot of unwarranted attention and tend to shy away from the spotlight, the young employees on your payroll are not only used to it--they crave it. And if they don’t feel like they get their fair share of the spotlight in your workplace, they’re apt to leave. It’s more imperative than ever to provide avenues for creative expression and recognition of young employees.
Put Video to Work for You –
Video is a simple, universal, and, now, very affordable way to engage your young workforce, but most employers are not harnessing its power and reach. There are a growing number of highly effective company recruiting and training videos now posted on social networking and video sites that not only ‘star’ young employees, but that have also been created, written, and produced by them.
Realizing the desire Gen Whys have for being on or around a video camera, smart companies/managers invite, enable, and encourage them to create recruiting and/or training videos that advance the company agenda. Without question, this keeps employees engaged, enthused, and focused on best practices while generating positive buzz among the Gen Why community.
See for yourself by visiting YouTube.com and entering in the search bar “Why Do People Work at Zappos?” and “How to Make an Auntie Anne's Pretzel.” You’ll see just how easy this can be, and you will start to envision how excited your young employees will get when you invite them to pull out their video cameras to help you recruit and train new recruits. (You may even decide to sponsor periodic contests for best recruiting video, best how to make a customer’s day video, etc.)
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Whys News Leveraging Video
Last summer, Eric hired TJ Wihera, a 22-year-old journalism graduate from the University of Colorado, and gave him free reign to blog from the perspective of a Gen Why coming into the workplace. Well now TJ's role has been expanded. He's taking his video camera to the streets to get inside the head of young employees as well as the managers who employ them. This will be an edgy "no holds barred" way to discover works -- and what doesn't -- in recruiting, training, managing, motivating, and retaining Gen Why.
Meet TJ and let him explain his mission to you in this video.
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Whys
Cracks
I’m wigging out! An unnamed woman called police in Port St. Lucie, FL to report that her ex-boyfriend had stolen her wig. The 20-year-old said she was out walking at 3:00am when her ex rode up on a bicycle. They argued, and the man grabbed the black wig that was "sewn" to her blonde hair, slapped her, and rode off. She told officers she had lived with the man for eight months -- but could only remember his first name. Investigating officers are stalled until they get more information. (Port St Lucie News)
I can just imagine his legal defense: Because she couldn’t remember his name after living together eight months, he got so mad he started tearing his hair out, and thus, needed something to cover up his bald spots.
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Whys
Blog
Check out Eric's latest blog - always insightful and inspiring; sometimes humorous. Read it here.
Gen Why Perspective
See things through the eyes of Generation Why. Click here to read TJ Wihera's blog.
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In
This Issue:
Resources:
As a rock star, I have two instincts, I want to have fun, and I want to change the world. I have a chance to do both. |
Bono |
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Being a celebrity doesn't even seem to keep the fleas off our dogs - and if being a celebrity won't give me an advantage over a couple of fleas, then I guess there can't be much in being a celebrity after all.
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Walt Disney |
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The fame you earn has a different taste from the fame that is forced upon you.
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Gloria Vanderbilt |
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Fame will go by and, so long, I've had you, fame. If it goes by, I've always known it was fickle. So at least it's something I experienced.
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Marilyn Monroe |
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Everyone wants immediate success, immediate celebrity, and that doesn't produce what used to be artists.
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My Brat Pack buddies and I didn't exactly handle celebrity very well. Success at an early age is far more difficult to handle than failure. |
Judd Nelson |
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In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes. |
Andy Warhol |
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We like to give credit to the bird for flying. But how much of what they do is really flying and how much of it is simply coasting from the previous flap? |
Jack Handey, Author, Deep Thoughts |
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Whys Website of the Month
The days of the 90-day performance review are over. They want feedback—and they want it NOW! Enter Rypple.com, a website that enables young employees to get continual performance feedback from managers and supervisors—sometimes anonymously—on a minute-by-minute basis.
Eric's Travels & Presentations
January 31 |
Louisville, KY |
February 16 |
Orlando, FL |
February 17 |
San Diego, CA |
February 24 |
Fort Worth, TX |
February 28 |
Phoenix, AZ |
 Always on the cutting edge with new ideas, Eric will soon be launching a new resource for anyone who employs teens and young adults! Stay Tuned!
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