“As a fellow, I am not only regularly told that I am valued, but also, my voice is heard by the administration, even when other Child Care Workers are afraid to speak. Even better, leadership activities help me to keep my focus on the big picture.” -- current Turning the Tide participant
Sponsoring Agency staff participate in Promising Practices workshops designed to:
- address the challenges and opportunities of working with young talent from the millennial generation
- improve recruitment and retention of young talent throughout their organizations
There are 8 promising practices we encourage Agency staff to adopt:
- Acknowledge Work
Young adults place a high importance on having their work and effort acknowledged.
- Encourage Achievement of Goals (Sense of Personal Mission)
Young adults value seeing their work aligned with their personal mission as well as having an impact on the community being served.
- Bridge Cultural Distance
This is an acknowledgement of the cultural distance in the values, norms, and behaviors of those in the hiring/management group (typically Baby Boomers) and those newly entering the field (typically Millennials).
- Support Continuous Learning
Young adults constantly seek opportunities to learn and add skills in preparation for the next step of their occupational journey.
- Institute Clarity and Transparency of Process (Integrity)
Young adults value integrity in their workplace. They want to ensure that decision-making processes are transparent and are consistent with the mission/vision of the organization. When organizations do not have this alignment, it becomes a demotivator for these young adults.
- Create Pathways (Internal and External)
Young adults look for opportunities to expand their personal/professional network within the field. This cultivates multiple pathways for professional development as well as deters isolation/loneliness which may occur when that young person is a minority within the organization due to age.
- Be Flexible
Young adults value flexibility in their work environments as well as the opportunity to have input/power over how they implement their work. This can range from how they manage their time to where they conduct their service impact.
- Sustain Relationships
Young adults value having positive interpersonal relationships (with management, fellow staff, and even clients) that serve as bedrock support for the challenging work. The relationships also affirm their non-traditional and often misunderstood career choice. Young adults want to connect to a larger movement and be part of a family environment.
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