As I watched the final minutes of last Sunday’s Denver Bronco game against the Miami Dolphins, I realized that Tim Tebow is more than just a star to many fans. Tebow is a star of Generation Y.
With Miami leading 15-0 and only 5:23 minutes remaining in the game, Tebow was statistically “un-stellar” for the game with just 13-of-27 completions for 161 yards. The sportscaster commented that his stats weren’t pretty, but the 24-year-old Gen Y wouldn’t be judged in this game on stats but on his ability to “get the job done.” In the end, he scored the final TD and led the team to an 18-15 victory. NFL insiders have expressed doubts about his ability to succeed due to his unorthodox style.
Listening to the announcer’s words, one thought about the people of Generation Y and how they do things differently from previous generations. As the newest bunch in the workplace, they’re unconventional, a nice way of saying they work in a way that leaves many business owners and managers upset and perplexed. As more enter the workforce, established ways of doing work and how it’s measured, like football stats, may change a bit. When Generation Y is at work, there will be new ways to get work done and new ways to measure success.
Here are 5 aspects of Generation Y that, like Tebow, have the potential to create new routes to results.
Appearance #1. Generation Y is young and confident. “You can do anything you put your heart and mind into and here are the skills, tools and experience to make it happen” This is the message Generation Y has heard from parents and teachers all their lives. They have become confident enough to ask for what they want and use it in unorthodox ways.
Appearance #2. Generation Y are self-expressive people. They want to be unique and be seen as different from everyone, even their peers. Tattoos, the way they dress, and body piercings are all means of self-expression. PEW research says they pray as often as their elders did in their youth, but in less traditional ways, such as “Tebowing.”
Appearance #3. Generation Y is globally aware and accepts different cultures and ways of doing things. Your learning platform is the world. Like Tebow’s early years, Generation Y experiences major changes in lifestyle, technology, economics, and war.
Look #4. Generation Y expectations change. Change in the way we do everything is coming faster than ever. The Internet adjusts products and markets based on real-time information, creating change that inspires rather than disrupts Gen Y like it does Boomers. The changes don’t seem to faze Tebow.
Aspect #5. Generation Y is optimistic and resilient. Tebow has leadership qualities that inspire his teammates when the going gets tough. Generation Y is creating ways to survive low employment in a recovering economy. Nine out of ten say they currently have enough money and will eventually reach their long-term goals. They drive less and commit to buying used cars. They want houses that are smaller, more efficient and low maintenance. Tebow would probably play any position in the NFL to achieve his career goals.
And I hope that business owners and managers will do for Gen Y what Bronco center Mike Pouncey said for Tebow, “…put him aside about what he can’t do and talk about the things he can do.” to get the job done and increase motivation in the workplace.