How to Build Better Working Relationships with Gen Ys

Working with someone from a different generation can be a challenging experience. Gen Ys can be particularly confusing to the generations before them. Here are three Gen Y characteristics and tips for how you can work with them, rather than against them:

1. They are immediate. This often comes off as impatience, but Gen Ys are used to things moving at a fast pace. Channel this energy into projects that are meaningful to them and need a flurry of activity to get accomplished.
2. They are informal. Gen Ys tend to be comfortable interacting with anyone at any level of the organization. Encourage this outreach but ask that they keep you updated about whom they're talking to and on what topics.
3. They learn with others. To figure out a new task, Gen Ys often like to talk it through, sometimes with people from another unit or a different company. When the task is sensitive, set the rules that this is out of bounds. For other topics, recognize that this collaborative instinct is a good one and don't discourage it even if it's not your style

Source: Harvard Business Review