From high maintenance to high productivity

Purpose – To offer managers insights into Generation Y and practical suggestions on how to turn this high maintenance workforce into a high productivity workforce.Design/methodology/approach – This research is based on RainmakerThinking Inc.’s ongoing workplace interviews with hundreds of Generation Yers and managers.Findings – Like their Gen X siblings, the most talented members of Generation Yers are independent, entrepreneurial thinkers who relish responsibility, demand immediate feedback, and expect a sense of accomplishment hourly. They thrive on challenging work and creative expression, love freedom and flexibility, and hate micromanagement. Guided by managers who are willing to confront their challenges and meet their expectations, they have the potential to become the highest performers in history. They have 14 expectations of managers that can create the type of professional relationships they want to build.Research limitations/implications – Generation Y is just beginning to gain pull in the wor...