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Becoming the Boss
Book

Becoming the Boss

New Rules for the Next Generation of Leaders

HarperBusiness, 2014 more...

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Editorial Rating

6

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Well Structured
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

Lindsey Pollak, an expert on millennials, tells members of the latest working generation how to manage their careers and how to make the difficult transition from employee to supervisor. Millennials (also known as Generation Y, born between 1982 and 2000) approach work differently than many older workers. Millennials regard technology as integral to their lives. They understand promoting and “branding” themselves, especially online. Pollak’s leadership readiness advice includes developing essential skills – listening effectively, managing time, running meetings, delegating, networking, and more. Her comprehensive manual, which follows her first book, Getting from College to Career, is a handy resource, but it runs long and could use more perspectives from young managers. getAbstract recommends her advice to current and aspiring millennial managers and to managers from other generations who want to understand them better.

Summary

The Millennial Generation: Getting to Know Y

Millennials – Generation Y – will make up half of the US workforce by 2020. Born between 1982 and 2000, millennials are self-expressive, technologically savvy, group-oriented and diverse. While Gen Y’s 80 million people make up the largest section of the US workforce, its members may face “millennial shaming” from older employees who consider them entitled and too much in need of constant feedback or validation.

The older generations include traditionalists – born from 1922 to 1945; baby boomers – born from 1946 to 1964; and Generation X – born from 1965 to 1981. Traditionalists are loyal, cautious, frugal and risk-averse. Their kids, the baby boomers, challenged the status quo; they’re optimistic, youthful and fun-loving. Baby boomers grew up in an era of rock ’n’ roll, free love, civil rights and women’s liberation. Generation Xers are independent, self-sufficient and technologically adept. Many Xers grew up as “latchkey kids” and looked after themselves because their parents worked long hours or were divorced. Overall, traditionalists and Generation Xers are more cautious, while baby boomers and members of Generation ...

About the Author

Lindsey Pollak is a speaker, writer and consultant specializing in Generation Y. Pollak also wrote Getting from College to Career: Your Essential Guide for Succeeding in the Real World.


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