X,Y: Job Promotion

To move forward we must be mindful of the past.  To move forward we must be mindful of those who will.

Jennifer, three years out of college was recently promoted to a senior marketing position.  Jennifer captured management's attention early on.  Her passion, drive, creativeness and work ethic were impossible to deny. 

Never before had management promoted someone so young to such a position.  They recognized Jennifer's contributions and potential however, and a buzz of anxious anticipation swirled amongst them.  "Won't Jennifer be floored when she finds out?"

Jennifer wasn't floored.

"It's about time they paid attention to what I'm doing.  I expect this promotion."

On one hand I feel for management.  Their intentions are genuine.  On the other hand management must wake up, open up and keep up.  Jennifer's management has become glued to the floor of yesteryear.  They need to take their shoes off and get out of that room.   The key to dealing with folks like Jennifer is to:

• Understand their hopes and ambitions
• Do not smother strengths with task based items that a less qualified person can handle
• Feed their drive with intellectual stimulation
• Do not allow job burnout
• Understand their need to experience stimulation from mulitiple areas
• Keep an eye on results
• Don't get hung up on how better-than-average results are produced (unless to teach others)

Many people from generations X and Y are moving forward.  We need to remove the boulders from their path, not place them there.