So I was reading a very good book today. It was written by John Evans and published in 1807. I am happy to say it is one of my favorite books (and maybe even treasured due to its age). It shows a certain character of the times. Consider this guy wrote it in 1807. It is entitled Evans Sketches. At that time sketches were another way of saying their thoughts; sometimes based on the writings of the times and commentary. It shows a certain zeitgeist. This is German word meaning literally “time ghost (or spirit)”, but defined more so by sociologists and the like as “spirit of the times”. In other words, it advocates a look at a period of time and what made it what it was.
John Evans shared his zeitgeist through his writings, through his thoughts. It helped me see how someone looked at his topic at that specific time. It is fascinating to read this and hear his thoughts through word choice, syntax, literary reference and even tone. This was his technology in getting a point across. Books in the nineteenth century were the internet.
Fast forward about 200 plus years and I am speaking at an iQmetrix event. They promote each year a summit for wireless retailers to come and learn, and share, and perhaps add something to their business that will make them better, faster and more profitable. Granted these are a collection of retailers who use iQmetrix or are potential subscribers to it. It is more than that. It always has been. I been blessed to attend 6 of the seven years it has taken place and each time, it simply rocks my world. What struck me this time was the amount of technology they utilized. They are in the technology business. They provide an amazing retail management system to help wireless retailers optimize their efficiencies and outcome. They were blogging during the event and at each speaking engagement. People could upload things everywhere. And everything did not just seem real time exchange, it was real time exchange. Is that Generation Y’s technology, a.k.a. zeitgeist? Yes.
A generation is often affected and defined by its relative technology. Evans had his book or books. Generation Y has the internet, Facebook and all forms of social media. It may have taken months, if not years for a book in 1807 to reach the hands of someone and in fact only to very, very few (literacy and accessibility). Information for Gen Y is instantaneous and inclusive. Anyone can read it, see it, hear it, do it and know it in real time.
So if you are a manager or owner, how does technology play a part in retail? This seems obvious when at an iQ event as they sell technology to people who sell technology, which implies if working with Gen Y and they know and love technology…you are in a perfect retail fit. How could you not get and keep great people forever? Why should there be any issue? And there is surprisingly. Even these wireless retailers have an issue. Imagine if you are any other kind of retailer. Wait for it…”But, hey I have technology in my store? I have computers. I have plasma screens on the wall.” That is not it. “Huh? This is on technology, right?” No. It is about what technology creates within a mindset. Think about it this way: it is not the thing. It is what the thing provides. This is how we as managers need to see and embrace technology in working with Generation Y. Technology gives one freedom, speed, inclusivity and accessibility. This not about having technology in your store per se (although take a very careful look at that…that is another post), it is about providing our workforce with the very things they get from technology. Things like:
Freedom. How much do you let your team problem solve or think creatively? I was a manager. I get that the job has limits. Of course, their job has expectation and boundaries. Where can you create moments for them to share their thoughts on how the “widget” gets sold?
Speed. How quick do you hire or interview? What about the onboarding process? How quick or often are your meetings? What about the speed of providing feedback or coaching on performance?
Inclusivity. Everyone is included and has a say. Technology has created this, perhaps more so than anything else. I can reach anyone. How much do you allow collaboration? How much to you involve everyone within some type of event that allows for peer discussion? Team is a very critical dynamic to anyone and expressively this generation.
Accessibility. No manager likes to get a call on their day off. Sorry, you are a conduit. If someone doesn’t have the information in today’s technology, they go to a search engine. This generation wants to have the answer. If you are a manager, you are that search engine. This does not mean you shouldn’t have parameters on how this works. It does mean when it comes to feedback, operations, policy, etc.; you need to be accessible. The manager is the “google” for this generation.
My son called me while I was at iQ. Sounds sublime, right? He was in Afghanistan with his Marine regiment for his second tour. Don’t get a lot of calls, as he was kinda in a bit of a war zone (he’s back now, thank God). What about Evans? Did he have a son in 1807? He may have. If so and if a Marine serving on the U.S.S. Chesapeake, he would have been fired on by the British. This incident led the ultimate War of 1812. But what about if Evan’s hypothetical son wanted to send word “Hey, I am here, in this place, you are not and I just wanted to say hi.”? How long would that take? Weeks, months? My son has access to a phone and just called me and said “Hey, I am here, in this place, you are not and I just wanted to say hi.” How does the factor when a Gen Y like my son comes into the workplace and looks squarely into the eyes of a manager/leader? The call made my day. It made my week. Do I thank the technology or what it created?
Cheers