Those who know and read me, have heard my views on the coming shortage of skilled workers. The demographics (baby-boomers) don’t lie, as well as the different mind-set that younger workers bring to the table.
Penelope Trunk (author and columnist) brings us a great post on how younger workers will have an advantage in the coming years. I would go one-step further and say young thinking workers.
What do you think are the barriers for employers in managing and leading in this new environment?
Here’s my list of barriers:
- Today’s managers and leaders don’t read. Consequently, they won’t take the time to read people either.
- Habit.
- Too fixated on quarterly numbers at the expense of people.
- Arrogance.
- Fear!
- No reliable and authentic voice to help them navigate.
Some of the largest barriers that corporations will need to overcome in order to reverse this trend will be the following:
1. Realize that finances are not the paramount concern for individuals that have come to grips that they have been created with purpose.
2. Rather than managing employees, those in places of position must give employees the opportunity to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit.
3. Realize that personal growth should be encouraged. Please note, this does not mean that the organization should be focused on how the individual can grow to meet the needs of the organization. The thought here is that as people operate in their “sweet spot”, the organization is able to reap the benefit, even when there does not appear to be a correlation with the bottom line.
4. Understand that all people are unique, and that success is defined differently by each unique person.