Generation Y

This is a very interesting article on managing fresh talent who have just entered the workplace out of uni (or genY as the oldies call it these days). Even though I still feel fairly young in my career, being a KFC trained lemming, I can sympathise with what they're getting at. I feel I've worked pretty hard myself, and it gets to me a little when someone thinks they deserve everything without proving their worth. I've had a bit of experience now dealing with this kind of thing - at this stage I guess it's a mind set that both sides need to comprimise on.

Of course there's always exceptions to the rule. Make up your own mind - read about here:

http://blogs.smh.com.au/enterprise/archives/2007/05/are_geny_really_despicable.html

management bullies

Just read an interesting blog article on microsoft's bullying management nature from an ex employee... gives a little insight into the company. It may get results, but jeez, I kinda like to have fun at work too. I guess if you've got deep pockets you can afford to be a bully.

http://blog.tomevslin.com/2007/05/microsoft_memor.html

de-personalise

I had my monthly management mentoring meeting today - and I took away an excellent piece of advice: de-personalise.

One of my major problems at work is that I get too emotionally involved in a project. Because I've played a big part in building up most of the products and systems at work, if someone has an issue with something I tend to take it personally. Even if the problem stems from a third party plug in shortcoming like freetextbox. The problems that arise can be any number of things - mainly user initiated, but instead of trying to train users properly or trying to learn how the product works ([sarcasm]my gosh, that would take some effort on their behalf! what a concept that I could even suggest such a thing!!![/sarcasm]), people try to shift blame, ultimately ending back in my side of the court.

So I had a talk to my mentor today about this. I didn't realise this till my mentor said today - all you need to do is de-personalise yourself from it all, don't get so emotionally involved. In the end, it's just a job. By all means though, stay passionate about the job.

Go back to the system, make people use it, keep on doing what your doing.

Hearing this little piece of advice - I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, like I had one of those "moments of clarity", like I had been enlightened.

Such a trivial little thing... you might be reading this and think "big whoopdi doo". But for me - I think I just got the right piece of advice at the right time and I feel much better for everything now. It's nice to get a detached perspective - sometimes I cant see the forest for the trees, and simple advice when your bogged down can just make everything seem so much clearer.