The New Workforce IQ

Over the last few years it seems like you can’t read a publication, or go to a conference or training program without hearing about “4 Generations in the Workplace” or “How to manage Millennials”.

Does your organization suffer from “Leadership shrinkage”? Leadership roles are getting bigger while your qualified talent pool is getting smaller.  The economic recession bought us a few years as our working Boomers delayed retirement.  However, now that the economy is showing signs of recovery, the reported “War on Talent” is back at the forefront of our workforce planning. PwC recently reported that 63% of Baby Boomers are on track to retire in the next 5 years. At the same time, organizations have been quite outspoken about their ability to engage their youngest segment of the workforce, Millennials, long enough to have them make real impacts to their bottom line.

Almost everyone works for at least one Boss-hole in the lifetime of their career.  We know it when we work for one. They can be mean, degrading or even clueless.  We find ourselves anxious, angry and never able to please them.  Boss-holes are plentiful in the workplace and can make your life miserable. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics over 2 million people quit every month in the US.  31% of those surveyed state that it’s because they didn’t like their boss.  Our boss seems to be a big factor in whether or not we like our job.

Every year, another crop of determined new employees enters the workforce, and your organization, for the first time.  They’re smart, they’re energized, and they’re ready to change the world.

Young employees everywhere are fleeing organizations - leaving on their own or being “poached” after only 14-18 months.  What’s going on?