Issue #35

In this issue:

• The First Responder
• Whys Cracks
• The Buzz
• WhysNews Archive

Word to the Whys

"Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal." Vince Lombardi

"The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority."
Ken Blanchard, Author of The One Minute Manager

"We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way." George S. Patton

An army of deer would be more formidable commanded by a lion, than a an army of lions commanded by a stag. Proverb

"No one every listened themselves out of a job." Calvin Coolidge

"Every person I work with knows something better than me. My job is to listen long enough to find it and use it." Jack Nichols

"Two monologues do not make a dialogue." Jeff Daly

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by Eric Chester is being called the quintessential guide to recruiting, hiring, training, motivating and retaining the emerging workforce.

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The First Responder
A Sure Fire Way to Connect

Some employers hold to the age-old notion that the best way to connect with a Gen Why is to sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk with them. Unfortunately, this talk often morphs into more of a "shared monologue" with the manager handling the bulk of the talking part. But every Whys manager worth her salt knows that when you talk, you only know what you already know. When you listen, you not only know what you know; you know what they know.

Boomers grew up believing respect was best demonstrated by shutting up and doing exactly as we were told. After all, we were supposed to be seen, not heard. Now that we're in charge, we naturally want those same rules to apply when dealing with our young workforce. We fail to realize that if we gain their silence, we lose their buy-in. Getting them to talk honestly and openly from day one -- and listening to what they say -- will build a bridge to their heart while providing a conduit for gaining their allegiance. And the best part is, you don't have to be the one who gets them talking. In fact, it's better if you're not.

Gen Whys who apply for employment at Monarch Ski & Snowboard Area in Southwestern Colorado don't get a call from management when they are a prospective hire. The first person they hear from is a peer, and the call comes almost immediately. Monarch has decided that the best people to connect with interested Gen Whys are other Gen Whys who are already committed employees. This immediately puts the applicant at ease. If they have any questions or concerns, the Gen Why staff member can address these issues from the perspective of the applicant, letting them know how the job really works--both the pros and the cons. If the applicant has a question that the employed Gen Why cannot answer, they are referred to management or human resources.

This First Responder program serves Monarch well, while simultaneously aligning it with the specific needs and wants of the Gen Whys. First, it eliminates lengthy delays often experienced when busy managers must try to work in calls to prospective employees. There's literally no time wasted between the time of application and the all-important first contact. Second, it engages the current Gen Why employees, giving them an opportunity to do something they wouldn't normally do during the course of a typical day, satisfying their needs for change and for more advanced responsibilities. Third, it creates an immediate ally for the new applicant, helping them feel as if they already have a friend who works for the company. Oftentimes, the Gen Why employee will serve as a mentor or a trainer for a new employee they helped to recruit.

The Take Away Idea?
Talk less and listen more. Gain the advantage by keying in to the mindset of your front line. When recruiting, train your top-producing Gen Whys to be your First Responders to assist you in the initial contact and screening of your Gen Why applicants. Invite your First Responders to sit in on the initial interview. If the applicant is hired, involve your experienced Gen Whys to aid in the orientation, the training, and the mentoring of the new employee.

Once your Whys feel comfortable with their new surroundings, keep them connected by soliciting frequent feedback on evaluations and in open forums. Foster relationships that allow your Gen Whys to share comments, concerns, and even grievances before they escalate to unmanageable levels. Don't be lured into believing that by encouraging open communication, you will erode the respect they have for management and the chain of command. If anything, this will enhance it.

A Word to the Wise
Make absolutely certain that your First Responders are solid, committed employees with positive, outgoing personalities. If you have any doubts or reservations about using a Gen Why employee as a First Responder, shadow them on calls until both of you feel comfortable. Make certain to structure a nice incentive-based reward system for First Responders who prove they are capable of helping you reel in good-fit applicants.

Whys Cracks

HOLY SHOCKING BRITCHES, BATMAN! -Jason Grisham, 22, climbed over a barbed wire topped fence around an electrical substation in Clarksville, Ind., and, ignoring warning signs, climbed up a tower until he got to a 69,000-volt wire. The resulting jolt threw him clear, but he knocked out power to 6,800 customers. Grisham "appeared to have extensive burn marks on his chest and his pants appeared to have exploded," police say, but he's expected to survive. (AP)
...Let's hope the "exploded" pants means he won't be able to pass on his genes.

SPIDERMAN, YOU'RE NOT! - It must have been a slow day at Champs Sports, a store in the Oakdale Mall in Johnson City, N.Y. Assistant store manager Joseph R. Freer, 23, allegedly soaked a spider in a storage area with a flammable liquid and lit it. The resulting fire spread into the store. The entire mall was evacuated, and many stores and restaurants suffered smoke damage. Freer was arrested and charged with fourth-degree arson. (Ithaca Journal)
...Reason #23 to keep some bug spray handy. Oh yeah, and a fire extinguisher, too.

The Buzz

What are THEY Saying?

What do your colleagues have to say about LIVE Generation Why Presentations?

"Our management team is already finding creative ways to implement the ideas generated from the Generation Why presentation and subsequent workshop."

~John Spano, HR Director, Muvico Theaters, Inc.