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April 2014
13. Teach themwritingskillsas this issadly lackingamongstGenY’s
whowerenot taught them at school.
14. Assume they are complaining about you online. Set the
boundaries by educating them as to what is acceptable and
unacceptable in this regard.
15. Tell themwhat youwill do for them. Theyneed to knowwhat the
rewardswill beor else theymay leave.
16. Reward them. The employees who excel should be and the
bonusmust be significant andnot insult their efforts.
17. Feed their entrepreneurialism because they are constantly
planning to start their ownbusiness.
18. Facilitate their lives outside the workplace. They are hungry
for intellectual growth and other opportunities, so facilitate
continuing education and hobbies which will enhance their
happiness.
19. Keep them stimulated. They need a constant workflow which
will stimulate them. They like brainstorming sessions which
give them the opportunity to share their ideas and ask them
to problem solve. They should not have time to sit around and
dreamupother opportunities for themselves.
20. Remember, you are the boss! The whole working world should
not bend towhat theGenYprefers, but asmartmanagerwill find
ways toget themost out of theGenY’s talents and skills so they
become productive professionals and leaderswho add value to
theorganisation.
The next generation consumer
In1983onevocal customer influencedabout tenpeople; in2002one
unhappy customer couldgoonline and tell 100 people; by 2010 one
vocal customer could reach 1 375 people. Dr Uys highlighted some
mega trends in customer behaviour.
Future customerswill:
Be value conscious rather thanprice conscious.
Be well-informed and able to compare prices and services
online.
Have a global taste which demands quality from being well-
travelled.
Demand total satisfaction andwill buy awhole experience.
Want tobedelighted.
Be fussy andperfectionistic.
Expect variety.
Expect short ordering times.
Judge the quality of the establishment not only the product.
They want to know how people work, their conditions and how
standards aremet.
Order more frequently, buy smaller lots and want just-in-time
deliveries.
Be environmentally aware and will insist on green products
madebygreenprocesses.
It is clear from these insights that new generation employees need
new generation employers. It is only whenmanagers are prepared
to adapt their management styles that the optimal potential in the
GenYwill beunleashed.
1: Dr RenéUys (Thinking Fusion) hadher audience intriguedby the insights sheoffered intoGenY’s.
2: Max du Preez (author, journalist and analyst) led the panel discussions. The panel consisted of Prof Riette de Kock (department of Food Science,
University of Pretoria); Dr Julian Jaftha (chief director: Plant Production and Health – Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries); and
StephenNgoza (precision farmingmachineryoperator –Rhys EvansGroup).
3: Prof RiettedeKock took a closer look at the consumer of the future,whileDr Julian Jaftha spoke about thenext generationof government officials.
4: StephenNgoza addressedCongress attendees about how the farmworker of the futurewill look. Dr RenéUys also tookpart in thepanel discussions.
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