The Awaited Generation

My first published article, on the young generation of romanian employees :). A passion keeps being a passion ;).

here's the link to romanian original version: http://www.cariereonline.ro/index.php/articles/Generatia_asteptata and below the translation of most of it. Hope you enjoy it!

"Bucharest, Thursday after work. On a terrace with a few good friends. Young, talented and energetic. With loads of business ideas, managers under 30 and internationally exposed. People who find it normal to hop on a plane for a business trip, to have a 24/24 h internet connection and believe that work is a means not a purpose in itself.

Who are we? The first generation for which communism is merely a history lesson. The first generation for which technology is not a luxury but a way of life. The first generation that grew up on MTV and fast-food, that lived hip-hop and found it normal to tell what we believe. We are a generation for which change is not an exception but a state of facts, for which wars, bombings and terrorism are the distant but constant background. Life is short then. And unpredictable. Why not feel it’s worth getting up each morning?

So why feel special, though? Because we have been so often told since ’89 that we are the “awaited generation” that we have started to believe it: you just need us! Because the “transition” society we have grew up with taught us that you have to “get around” and we ended up teaching our parents how to do that, too. And since we grew up in the midst of the excitement for “freedom of speech” we indulge into it fully: both the freedom and the speeches. So, as the world today proves that nothing lasts forever we have loyalty to be won not to be bought!

HiPo – how things work. We do not respond well to classic command and control management. Since we grew up questioning our parents we shall do the same with our bosses. Not knowing how to swallow our tongues might be just fine but not when your 50 year-old manager shouts: “Do this and do it now!”

The proper environment will generate though quick, innovating, spectacular results! Strategic directions?

1. It takes a context, not a job!– unlike our elders we do not seek job security that much but rather the context for our abilities to develop, for our strengths to be recognized, where we have flexibility, place for creativity and people willing to listen to us when there’s something to be told.
2. Strategy “access to opportunities” not “tasks” – we do not want to be told do this and that; it is important for us to see the opportunities that lie beyond tasks for our continual growth and added value.
3. From “study” to freely expressed curiosity – after 18 years of “studying” in various institutions where people with position power forced me into memorizing without necessarily reasoning the meaning behind, now I rather have it in a different way! For what motivates me most is the freedom of exploring my own curiosities! The people I admire stir my curiosity in being able to understand their perspective, in developing to where they are. The freedom of choices and expressing my curiosities teaches me how to be responsible for what I have chosen.
4. The power of a network – HiPos are the internet, LinkedIn and Facebook generation. We are the “switched-on” generation, that is chatting, mailing and talking on the mobile! The networks we connect with are a great deal of our personal power, our knowledge and relationships power! We need managers to know and support that! We need managers that know why personal time is important and talking on the mobile in any free moment is part of the career development plan. ‘Cause connected we’ll evolve faster while alone we linger!
5. Results and a “stage”! – A HiPo aspires to work faster and better than others. A HiPo wants results from Day 1. We want smaller objectives with tighter dead-lines so we can measure our success! And at dead-line, instead of getting on to the next task, we need a round of applause with pics, cheers and hugs! Because in the world of entertainment, brands and multiple options, the “on stage” recognition is the key!"