CHAPTER FOURMYTHS
There is a logical reason why Gen Y is the way it is and it is helpful to understand it. More important, whatever Gen Y’s characteristics may be, if we are good leaders, we will be able to work with them and bring out the best in them. There are no attributes possessed by Gen Y that cannot be successfully managed, nurtured, and channeled in a beneficial way by a good leader.
We believe urban legends and misplaced media headlines drive much of the negative image of Gen Y. We also believe one or two “real life” examples that support these “urban legends” can quickly be seen as validation of one’s prejudice and become viewed as the norm and not the exception. There may be a tendency to look at one or two exceptions and ignore the tens of thousands of stories that are not in the media and do not “go viral” on the Internet. Only the unusual and extreme tends to “go viral.”
Our research into the common myths has been supported over and over by our audiences when we discuss Gen Y. Around the county and around the world we hear very similar things. Let’s look more closely at the seven major myths about Gen Y that have developed over time.
Myth 1: Gen Yers Are Slackers or Lazy
This is one of the most repeated prejudices we hear about Gen Y. In 2008 we conducted ...
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