In our research conversations with campus administrators, lecturers and others in the education sector, we often ask them what perturbs them most about this generation of campus students.

Here are some of the responses we usually get:

• They are indifferent and don't seem to care about the consequences of their actions
• They basically ignore campus rules and regulations
• They are always late
• Perpetually under-dressed!
• Always distracted; it's hard to hold their attention
• Just how do we get them to co-operate with us??

The habits and quirks of this generation of Gen Y students are causing dilemmas on university and polytechnic campuses unlike anything seen before, resulting in quite a few administrative headaches and nightmares.

Relax --- you are not alone!

Like you, managers and supervisors across all industries are finding Gen Y to be a strange, bewildering and perplexing lot. The only difference is, in a typical office, a manager may have a handful of Gen Ys in one department, whereas campus administrators and lecturers are facing them at close range and head-on --- by the hundreds!

It's no wonder, then, that campus administrators and educators everywhere are tearing their hair out. The question I get all the time is: Is there any hope of us ever understanding this generation of young people, and getting them to co-operate with us?

I've got good news for you. From our experience in working with various clients and government agencies on the Gen Y issue, the answer is yes – but first, it starts with ‘decoding' them, and understanding why they are the way they are.

How did the become the way they are?

Simply put, Gen Ys are not a freak act of nature. They are the way they are because they grew up in a world very different from ours. Hence their worldview, perception and criteria for decision-making are very different from the rest of us.

The result: The classic generation gap – but with a twist. While it is a generation gap all right, this generation gap between Gen Y and the rest of us is unlike anything we have experienced before.

Gen Ys are a ‘different kettle of fish', vastly different from the other generations that preceded them. Even Gen X managers and educators (a mere 8 years older than the typical campus student) find it hard to ‘figure them out'.

"Which planet are you from?"

Why are Gen Ys so different? These observations from the social landscape give us some clues:

• Advancements in technology and the Internet have accelerated at great speed.
• Lifestyle and entertainment options are evolving at breakneck speed.
• Product cycles are getting shorter.
• On the Internet, one year is equivalent to 4 years (some experts say 7 years) off-line. That is the sheer speed at which innovations and social media are developing and evolving.

As a result:

• Gen Ys have never known a world without the Internet and handphones. (Many of them have never ever used a public phone!) 
• The attention span of Gen Y students is shorter than all the generations before them, and their tolerance level for anything monotonous and routine (in their words, ‘boring' and ‘lame') is extremely low.
• They are used to ‘mass customisation', where they can customise their MySpace user profiles, personalise their Facebook page, choose who they want to follow on Twitter, choose which music tracks to download, which YouTube videos to watch… you get the idea.
• Technology has blurred the lines between work and play for all of us, but particularly for Gen Ys. While other generations draw a clear line between work and play, Gen Ys play while they work, and work while they play.
• Gen Ys are historically the most well-educated generation, but perhaps also the most relationally impoverished. Many of them lack the skills to relate interpersonally, to have ‘human moments' and to simply live ‘off-line'.

How then do we keep Gen Y students engaged?

We could shrug our shoulders and dismiss them as ‘strange, unfathomable creatures' who make our jobs as campus administrators and educators that much harder…

Or we could take the step of understanding them and ‘decoding' them. I assure you that once you ‘decode' them, your chances of understanding and connecting will be much higher, and you will become more effective in your role on campus.

This may sound like an option, but it isn't --- It is a definite necessity if we are to effectively do our jobs and fulfil our calling as administrators and educators!

A crash course for campus administrators & lecturers – happening this school holidays!

To help you do just that, LifeWorkz has designed "Y U So Like Dat – Decoding Gen Y', a crash course on understanding and managing Gen Y, with a special emphasis and specific applications for campus administrators and educators (professors, lecturers, tutors) and all who work closely with Gen Y.

You will understand their worldview and pick up valuable tips and do-able strategies to communicate, motivate and manage them – and win their co-operation.

LifeWorkz - the Gen Y Expert!

Which training provider would you trust to bring you on this learning journey? In other words, why LifeWorkz?

• LifeWorkz is the preferred Gen Y consultant for a number of government agencies and companies. We are trusted in the boardroom and give executive briefings to top management.
• The Straits Times has acknowledged LifeWorkz as the 'Gen Y expert' (The Straits Times, "Gen Y gets down to work", 3 Feb 2009). We provide authoritative thought leadership on this issue in Singapore, and in Asia.
• LIfeWorkz is the expert speaker on the Gen Y issue in the Asian Business Forum (Jan 2009) and the HR conference (April 2009)

A Full Suite of Multi-Generational Solutions!

No one but LifeWorkz presents a comprehensive suite of solutions on Gen Y, with answers to the real-world challenges of managing across the generations.

Need we say more? Simply register by emailing us at Solutions@LifeWorkz.org!

Stop asking 'why', start learning 'how'!

Cheryl

Invite Cheryl Liew-Chng to speak at your organization!

Need a speaker for your company event? Need cutting-edge training for your staff? With the LifeWorkz team, there is never a dull moment! Contact LifeWorkz today!

All our programmes can be conducted in-house and customized for your organization.

Or you can send your staff for an open or 'public' programme when it is available.

Either way, email us today at Solutions@LifeWorkz.org to indicate your interest!