Hack:
The Power of Immediate Feedback
This Hack attempts to showcase the power of immediate feedback in organizations that want to develop top talent and keep individuals engaged for the long term.
When organizations run by Baby Boomers employ Gen Y there is often an expectation gap. Gen Y is eager to apply the knowledge they have cultivated in their education to the professional world. However, the gap between intellectual excellence and practical application can be problematic. Gen Y is looking for mentors who will help them bridge this gap and help them identify and leverage their strengths and interests for the benefit of the company. Meanwhile, Baby Boomer want employees who can excute effectively on tasks in order to assist the business in remaining profitable.
Through leveraging the power of immediate feedback, Baby Boomers and Gen Y can make the most of their time together. Placing talented members of Gen Y in situations where they can positively impact an organization is key. Honest, timely feedback will help them understand and develop their strengths. Harnessing the power of Immediate Feedback will enable leaders to build a strengths-based organization through effectively positioning your talent from day one.
Jane Walton (owner of Jane Walton Consulting, LLC : Baby Boomer)
Elkanah Reed (hired Independent Consultant: Gen Y)
Jane Walton hired Elkanah Reed to help her develop a program for her corporate clients. She was interested in working with Elkanah for three reasons. First, she wanted Gen Y’s perspective and reaction to her program. Second, she wanted someone to capture her ideas and translate them on paper – Elkanah’s degree in English was exactly what she needed. Third, she was impressed by Elkanah’s insatiable appetite for learning – Elkanah was current on all of the recently published business management books.
Jane felt she could offer Elkanah some consulting experience that would help him build his resume. To her surprise, what she received instead was sophisticated business strategy advice from someone with only a few years of work experience.
Outcomes
Elkanah and Jane have ended their professional engagement but remain in touch. Elkanah is currently a Dean's Scholar at HULT International Business School in London. He will graduate with a master’s degree in International Marketing in August 2013. Jane has successfully rolled out her new program to several organizations. Both look for opportunities to work together in the future.
This is not rocket science. However, it does require that leaders step up and speak candidly with their employees in related to their tasks in way the employee can understand and appreciate. If leaders implement Immediate Feeback in relation to the task that Gen Y'ers are hired to do, organizations will save time and money by avoiding keeping individual on products where they are not flourishing. Gen Y wants to thrive. Practicing immediate feedback gets Gen Y closer to a postion that matches their skill set because they are quickly given feedback on what they are not good at and no so good at on an organizational level.
Closing Thoughts
Often, for reasons center around fear or risk of offense, leaders do not provide honest, immediate feedback to team members. Positioning employees where they can add the most value to an organization is essential. Leveraging the power of immediate feedback allows your best employees to pivot their talents and to provide maximum profit outcome in every business situation.
Hack Written by:
Jane Walton (owner of Jane Walton Consulting, LLC : Baby Boomer)
Elkanah Reed (Independent Consultant; Masters of International Marketing Canidate & Dean Scholar at HULT International Business School in London: Gen Y)
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