Kids!
I don’t know what’s wrong with these kids today!
Kids!
Who can understand anything they say?
Kids!
They are disobedient, disrespectful oafs!
Noisy, crazy, dirty, lazy, loafers!
While we’re on the subject:
Kids!
You can talk and talk till your face is blue!
Kids!
But they still just do what they want to do!
Why can’t they be like we were,
Perfect in every way?
What’s the matter with kids today?
Those are the lyrics from the song “Kids,” from the Broadway play “Bye Bye Birdie,” written by Lee Adams. And while you may think they were written about today’s generation of kids, the song was written in 1959 – more than 50 years ago. In 1959 there were no computers, cell-phones, Internet, “Super Mario Bros.,” cable TV, or fax machines – and of course no iPods.
Most companies have multigenerational salespeople and multigenerational customers. The more experienced salespeople and sales managers are always criticizing or blaming youth for what they are not, what they don’t bring to the table, what’s wrong with them, and why they’re not more like “us.”
It’s referred to as a “generation gap.” And for the most part it’s self-imposed. Self-imposed generational gaps are caused by a failure to understand, embrace and communicate. An easier way to describe it is: “It’s not like what we do, therefore it’s wrong.” And that statement can be made from one group to another and vice-versa.
Generation gaps are timeless. They apply to EVERY generation of kids and adults for the past 200 years.
These days, people older than 40 have tried to segment kids by category. Gen-this or gen-that. How about “gen-smart” or “they’re a generation smarter than we are”?
How about “gen-impatient” or “they’re a generation with no patience for anyone (including employers – maybe even including you) who doesn’t get it”?
How about “gen-Facebook”? Many older people, like fools, are trying to block it or control it. Good luck! Take a lesson from recent history – the government of Egypt tried to do the same thing – the kids won. Same with Twitter. (Have you tweeted yet?)
Instead of concentrating on what kids don’t do, and what they are not, why don’t you try to find out what’s RIGHT with them?
As you’re looking, you may want to start with your attitude, because it’s likely you’re beginning your search with blame rather than acceptance. If you want to blame somebody, just look in the mirror, buddy. You may want to start with exercise and diet.
• They embrace new.
• They embrace now.
• They embrace next (change is great – it means cooler, better, faster).
• They embrace technology.
• They embrace online.
• They embrace speed.
• They embrace each other.
• They embrace the easiest way.
• They embrace texting.
• They embrace games.
• They embrace photos and videos.
• They embrace (and value) free time.
There are other realities of youth. They dress differently (more relaxed), they speak differently (less or zero political correctness) and they communicate differently (my granddaughter Morgan told me she would rather text than talk).
The younger generations, whatever their challenges or faults may be, are clearly technologically superior. They’re also willing to eagerly accept what’s next rather than fear change. And they’re leaning away from professional toward friendly.
Is it right? Is it wrong? Neither, it’s different. Certainly different than how I was raised. Maybe the same applies to you. But different is not bad, different may in fact be better, and in this case, I believe it is.
I believe that new, now, next, technology, Internet, online, speed, texting, games, video and free time are all good things – and at some point may actually lead to greater productivity and greater profits in any job function and in any company.
The business world, the work world and especially the sales world is at present, upside-down. Opportunities abound. Especially in the face of naysayers and negative people.
If you want to win, befriend youth. And youth, if you want to win, befriend experience. Together, take advantage of every opportunity in this slowly rebounding economy. Don’t fight each other, embrace each other for who you are and what your talents are, and you will win. •
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Jeffrey Gitomer is president of Charlotte-based Buy Gitomer. He can be reached at 704-333-1112 or email to
salesman@gitomer.com.
