The New Communication Gap; Screening Gen Y Recruits

Tom Van Riper of Forbes.com released an article "Instant Messenger Etiquette" uncovering the evolution of the workplace facing many corporate executives now—Generation Y recruits. Their bold confidence, eager individuality and technical social networking skills are emphasizing IM versus casual face time, e-mail over conference calls and t-shirts and blue jeans versus dress shirts and slacks. Will the "social generation" lack in traditional communication skills?

While the article continues to raise questions of preparedness for a corporate environment by the new entries, it also forecasts an eagerness to learn. The fact is, the workplace will change and the workplace IS changing. Environments need to evolve to foster the full potential of Generation Y filled with rich interactivity, an understanding for a solid social presence and the acceptance of untraditional communication methods for task completion. Rather than discourage, embrace. Train Generation Y in traditional communications and present the value over new methods such as IM. Keep an open information flow. Allow the new entries to share their technical backgrounds and open portals for improving efficiency in operations, as many of what they currently use does such as Wikis, RSS, blogging and podcasting.

Criticism and attempts to change will only discourage new Generation Y recruits, close communication and destruct their trust of you as a manager. While at first, misunderstandings of communication methods may seem to hinder productivity, many open opportunities for growth lay behind the screen.