Recently I was a guest on the Fanny Keifer Show http://www.studio4.ca/ where I was being interviewed for my new book. When the show was over I went back to the green room where a Gen Y had just watched my segment. She burst out laughing and said that her biggest challenge was exactly what I said which was that Zoomers just don’t see things the same way that Gen Y’s do. She gave examples of how she constantly has to ‘re-phrase’ her language in order to help a Zoomer understand the technology at her workplace. Then she asked me what 3 tips could I give her to help sell ideas to her Zoomer counterparts. Here’s what I suggested:
1. If your Gen Y idea involves technology make sure you are clear about the outcome of the technological idea such as how it will help them do the work easier, how it will impact the bottom line and how it will help them be more efficient.
2. You might think that your idea is the next thing that will transform the workplace but be careful, if you come across in a way that implies how things have been done has been wrong you will get resistance. Honour the people and systems that have been in place and use language such as, “the way we have done payroll has been effective up until now AND I have an idea that could save us 10 hours a week which equates to $2o,ooo.oo dollars in immediate savings.
3. Present your idea in a proposal format, build a Powerpoint slide show to demonstrate the ‘before’ and ‘after’ results of your idea. Provide numbers, input from other stakeholders and pertinent data. You could even make a video (which is easy for you to do) and present your idea using humour and creativity.
As a Gen Y you are fresh, candid and creative- some Zoomers will love you and others may have hangups about your ideas that will change the way they work.
You have to be willing to communicate in ‘their’ language if you hope to win over Zoomers in the workplace.