6 Ways to Motivate Gen Y in the Workplace

In a world full of smartphones, texting, iPods, iPads, Facebook and Twitter it is hard to imagine how today’s young adults switch off their social lives and get serious about work. Today’s adolescents want everything instantly and are not willing to be patient. They are looking to make it big in the corporate world, but are misguided about how to make a real impact at an organization.

So, what is required to motivate Generation Y in today’s workplace?

1. Facilitate technology into the workplace:It’s no secret that Gen Y likes their gadgets. They have grown up with the Internet at their fingertips — so providing them with the latest technologies will allow them to be as creative as possible at work. They are well-versed in the latest tech gadgets, so allow them find solutions for clients and the company through new technologies.

2. Keep them informed: Use today’s technologies to communicate as much information about company news as possible. With rapid technology at your fingertips, create e-newsletters or an informal messaging system that allows for short and sweet bites of vital information. It’s better to over-communicate than have workers find out information from outside sources. The more information they have about the company, the more like an integral part of the organization.

3. Shared goal management: With all the time they spend on the web, it makes sense to develop a system that allows employees to set and track all their goals online. If they can see the goals of their co-workers, they will become motivated to keep up and contribute to the best of their abilities. Harnessing technologies that allow for social goal management and team building will also provide for a better work environment. Today’s young generation appreciates companies that are not only established, but also do their part in improving the work environment for employees. They tend to gravitate towards companies that offer unique benefits such as casual work days, laid-back office environments and cash incentives.

4. Provide continuous feedback: Generation Y is used to everything being constant. This proves the same for feedback. They turn in a project and expect to hear back regarding their work on quite an immediate basis. Look at this as a way to help them continuously improve and better their skills and professional abilities.

5. Be flexible: Provide as many options when it comes to technologies, schedules and projects. Ask them where their interests lie and give them the option of choosing clients or projects if possible. Prepare a work environment that is easily mobile. If they need to work from home for a certain amount of time, provide this option and be ready to set them up with the tools they would need to succeed. Show them that you are not only committed to helping them grow but want to make the workplace as flexible and easygoing as possible.

6. Professional portfolio: In order to communicate effectively with hiring managers, it is important for employees to show some sort of portfolio with past professional work. In many industries today, a resume with tasks accomplished is simply not enough. Employers like to see tangible work to get a better idea of the projects a candidate has completed. One way to motivate Gen Y is to provide them the resources for building a portfolio, whether it is online or a hard copy and allow them to take it with them once they leave the company.

What do you think is the best way to motivate Generation Y?