Their Need for Feedback

Another potential for cosmic clash is Gen Y’s need for feedback. The Boomers have put systems in place for annual, bi-annual, or quarterly performance feedback. These are great systems with expensive technology and years and years of work of honing down the process to a science. The Gen Xers have grudgingly submitted to this painful scheduled experience, but now Gen Yers are entering the scene and they don’t want the scheduled feedback; instead, they want constant feedback. By constant, we mean constant. One of Hagemann’s Gen Y children brought home straight As at Christmas and by January 20^th said she was no longer a straight A student because she had a B in Communication Arts. Hagemann explained to her daughter that she was technically still considered an A student until her next report card came out and that she had plenty of time to bring her grade back up to an A. Her daughter was still very disappointed in herself, checking her grades constantly until she was back in A status. Notice it was not Hagemann (Gen X mom) insisting on the A status. It was the Gen Y daughter. The same behavior can be expected from Gen Yers at work. Boomers and Gen Xers can forget about the annual performance review. If they only give Gen Yers feedback once per year, they won’t be there to give feedback to.

Remember, Gen Yers live in real time. They want their feedback that way, their technology that way, and who knows what else. They will not only ask their Boomer and Gen X boss for feedback, but they will also ask their peers and, yes, their parents. In fact, “a large proportion of Ys (42% of women and 30% of men) report that they talk to their parents every day.”⁴

On this front, we’re sure Boomers and Gen Xers will be able to eventually adjust. It may feel a little high maintenance at first, but in the long run, it should put an end forever to the surprise “we’re going to let you go” discussion, because with constant feedback, employees should know exactly where they stand. Well, maybe that’s a little overly optimistic. Still, we think it will be a good thing in the long run. There is one more issue about constant feedback: Gen Yers not only want to receive it, but they also want to give it.