| "Most children are raised by amateurs, not | | | | colleges and universities whose purpose is |
| professionals." | | | | not to teach social skills, but rather, |
| | | | |
| - Bryce's LawINTRODUCTIONWant to know what | | | | to teach people how to learn. A college |
| to expect of the work force in the years | | | | diploma most definitely does not |
| ahead? Look no farther | | | | |
| | | | mean the graduate is socially well-adjusted, |
| than our schools or homes. Let me preface | | | | but that he/she has learned to study |
| my remarks by saying that in addition | | | | |
| | | | and accept new ideas. If anything, the |
| to all of my other responsibilities, I was | | | | student's extracurricular activities tell |
| very active in my local Little League for a | | | | |
| | | | more about a person's personality than the |
| number of years where I served as coach, | | | | degree itself. For example, participation |
| umpire, and on the local board of | | | | |
| | | | in team sports, club activities, or Greek |
| directors. Further, I have been very active | | | | life speaks volumes about a person's |
| locally in offering Masonic scholarships to | | | | |
| | | | personality and social skills.PAST EFFORTSIn |
| High School students. In addition, my wife | | | | the past, new corporate recruits underwent |
| has been active in the local school system | | | | special training programs to learn how |
| | | | |
| for the last ten years at the elementary, | | | | the company conducts business. Sales people |
| middle, and high school levels (this also | | | | in particular had to undergo rigorous |
| | | | |
| included PTA and SAC). Although we probably | | | | training to learn how to present products |
| won't win an award as the world's | | | | and care for the customers. Workmen |
| | | | |
| best parents, we made a point of becoming an | | | | underwent training to learn how to build |
| important and influential part of our | | | | quality products. However, such programs |
| | | | |
| children's lives. We didn't take any | | | | have been slashed in recent times as a means |
| special courses in parenting, we just got | | | | for cutting costs (and will be the subject |
| | | | |
| involved. But we are the exceptions as | | | | of a future paper).There was also a period |
| opposed to the rule.Prior to World War II, | | | | where mentors were assigned to new employees |
| the country was immersed in an economic | | | | to chaperone |
| depression which | | | | |
| | | | them on their journey through the corporate |
| put a strain on families and disrupted our | | | | world. Mentors were basically a |
| society. Everyone in a family was expected | | | | |
| | | | "Big Brother/Sister" program where senior |
| to pitch in and do their part in order to | | | | employees would offer sage advice |
| survive, this included going to school and | | | | |
| their | | | | to neophytes on adapting to the corporate |
| | | | world. But like the training programs, |
| place of worship. Some families suffered | | | | |
| severe hardships during this period causing | | | | mentoring is also being phased out.Although |
| | | | mentoring and training programs were intended |
| children to drop out of school and go to | | | | to develop the employee's |
| work. They didn't drop out as some form | | | | |
| | | | skills and effectiveness from a corporate |
| of rebellion or protest, but to simply earn | | | | perspective, neither dwelled on the personal |
| money to help support the family. | | | | |
| Consequently, | | | | problems of the employee.Now that new |
| | | | employees are left to fend for themselves, a |
| many earned nothing higher than a Junior | | | | generation gap is emerging |
| High diploma which was prized by many | | | | |
| | | | in business. Managers from just about every |
| families. The point is, there was a sense | | | | job segment are frustrated with new |
| of family back then and the people's hunger | | | | |
| | | | employees, and, likewise, new employees are |
| built character. They understood the value | | | | frustrated with management. Whereas |
| of a dollar, worked hard and squandered | | | | |
| | | | managers lament how little is accomplished |
| nothing. It was this generation that got us | | | | by new employees, new employees |
| through the war and propelled the country | | | | |
| | | | complain how much time they are putting in |
| towards economic success in the latter part | | | | at work. This highlights a significant |
| of the 20th century.In the 1950's and 1960's, | | | | |
| as the country was experiencing an economic | | | | difference between the generations: whereas |
| boom, a parent | | | | the new employees are watching the |
| | | | |
| normally stayed at home to manage the | | | | clock, the managers are watching what is |
| family, usually the wife. If a child | | | | produced. The two are not synonymous, |
| | | | |
| had a problem, a parent was always home to | | | | but nobody has taught the young employees |
| tend to their needs. Children no longer | | | | this yet. To the "newbies," their time is |
| | | | |
| had to drop out of school to support the | | | | what is important, regardless if they |
| family and our High Schools and Colleges | | | | produce anything worthwhile or not; to the |
| | | | manager, |
| swelled with students. The "baby boomers" | | | | |
| were considered well adjusted | | | | it is just the opposite. Also, young people |
| | | | believe calling in sick is an acceptable form |
| and readily adapted to the work force. This | | | | of |
| generation saw us through the space | | | | |
| | | | behavior. Where did they learn all this? |
| race and the technology revolution which | | | | On their own. It is a sad state of affairs |
| changed the face of corporate America.But in | | | | when |
| the last three decades, we began to lose | | | | |
| faith in our economy and our | | | | the media has more influence over the values |
| | | | of our children than parents do. But |
| standard of living. As a result, both | | | | |
| parents began to work inordinate hours and a | | | | when adults abdicate parenting to the media, |
| | | | it is not entirely surprising.So, what is |
| generation gap began to emerge. Exhausted | | | | needed? More training? Mentoring? Nope. |
| by their work, the parents | | | | Just some parenting. The sooner |
| | | | |
| would return home where the last thing they | | | | corporations realize this, the sooner they |
| wanted to hear was their child's | | | | can begin to develop mature and responsible |
| | | | |
| problems. Consequently, children became | | | | employees. Again, this is why the military |
| social outcasts in their own homes and | | | | now teaches its Drill Instructors basic |
| | | | |
| often had to fend for themselves; they | | | | counseling techniques, so they can help new |
| simply couldn't relate with their parents. | | | | recruits find their way through life and |
| Sure, | | | | become |
| | | | |
| the parents would sign their kids up for | | | | a good soldier. It is most definitely not |
| Summer Camp, Little League and Soccer, but | | | | "baby-sitting" but, rather, a recognition |
| | | | that parents |
| this was viewed more as baby-sitting | | | | |
| services as opposed to taking a true interest | | | | have dropped the ball in their child's |
| in | | | | development and someone has to pick up the |
| | | | |
| the child's development. They would also | | | | pieces in order for the newbie to realize |
| give their kids television sets and video | | | | their potential.I do not claim to have a |
| games | | | | Ph.D. in parenting, but as I see it there are |
| | | | three primary |
| to occupy their time.Today, school teachers | | | | |
| have become surrogate parents by default, | | | | duties a parent needs to inculcate:* Role |
| something | | | | Model - first, a parent has to be a good role |
| | | | model with attributes their subordinateswant |
| they weren't trained for, nor inclined to | | | | to aspire to attain. Role models are |
| accept. Talk to a teacher and you will hear | | | | respected for their authority and becomea |
| | | | highly credible source of information and |
| stories of lack of respect for authority, | | | | inspiration,* Teacher - second, a parent has |
| poor manners, and dysfunctional social | | | | to be able to teach, not just academic |
| | | | lessons butthose of life; e.g., morality, |
| intercourse. Children today no longer learn | | | | socialization, even finances (e.g., balancing |
| their values from their parents | | | | acheckbook, life insurance, etc.). It is the |
| | | | teacher who establishes the rules |
| but rather from Hollywood. As young adults | | | | andregulations of the classroom and, as such, |
| entering the work force, their work | | | | is also the disciplinarian.* Guidance |
| | | | Counselor - third, parenting includes guiding |
| ethic, values, and behavior are noticeably | | | | others on their path throughlife, explaining |
| different than the prior generation. There | | | | options and making recommendations.Very |
| | | | important, a parent has to recognize they |
| is no longer a sense of quality, service, or | | | | won't have all of the answers, but |
| craftsmanship; just put in your time and | | | | |
| | | | should know how to point someone in the |
| collect a paycheck. This is all having an | | | | right direction to get the answers they |
| adverse effect on how we conduct | | | | need.Above all else, a parent has to care |
| | | | about the welfare of their offspring. I am |
| business and the corporate culture.Now, let | | | | not |
| me give you a the scary figure: probably | | | | |
| 20%, or less, of today's | | | | suggesting corporate parents love their |
| | | | children like biological parents, but they |
| graduating High School seniors are socially | | | | |
| well adjusted.Knowing this, what should you | | | | need to invest time in the person, believe |
| do as a manager?THE NEED FOR PARENTINGIn the | | | | in the person, and motivate them |
| past, if you were a new employee, it was | | | | |
| assumed you knew how to manage | | | | accordingly, whether through kindness or a |
| | | | good swift kick in the rear. The |
| your personal life and you were expected to | | | | |
| adapt to the corporate culture. This | | | | corporate parent has to also know when their |
| | | | work is complete and allow the |
| is no longer true and presents a problem for | | | | |
| managers. Younger employees today | | | | offspring to move on to the next stage of |
| | | | their corporate life.The military has the |
| have problems managing money, dressing | | | | advantage of written contracts and boot camps |
| appropriately, and interpersonal relations | | | | to |
| | | | |
| and communications, not to mention alcohol, | | | | indoctrinate new recruits. Perhaps a |
| drugs, and sex. They are raw and rough. But | | | | corporate boot camp could be devised |
| | | | |
| | | | and teach the same lessons as found in the |
| are they salvageable? They better be, for | | | | military, such as:* Cause and effect, e.g., |
| your company's sake, as they represent | | | | if you make a mistake, you know you will be |
| | | | penalized accordingly.* The value of good |
| tomorrow's work force.Perhaps we can take a | | | | workmanship and its impact on others.* How |
| lesson from the military services here. The | | | | to give and take an order.* Discipline and |
| military is | | | | code of conduct.* |
| | | | Teamwork.CONCLUSIONCompanies today are at a |
| well aware they are not getting the "cream | | | | loss coping with the newest generation of |
| of the crop" when they take on new | | | | |
| | | | workers. What they don't realize is, it |
| recruits. Many are social misfits coming | | | | will get worse before it gets better. Since |
| from broken homes. As such, the | | | | |
| | | | most biological parents are content with |
| military's initial role is to break the | | | | allowing others to teach their children |
| individual of bad habits and impose a new | | | | |
| | | | the necessary values in life, teachers, the |
| system of discipline and work ethic. | | | | military and corporations are forced to |
| Individualism is replaced by teamwork and, | | | | |
| | | | pick up the slack, like it or not. The |
| in the process, a sense of belonging and | | | | sooner we admit this, the sooner we can |
| family is imposed. This is either readily | | | | address |
| | | | |
| accepted by the new recruit or they are | | | | how to remedy the situation. Whether this |
| drummed out of the service. Discipline, | | | | involves one-on-one counseling or a |
| | | | |
| organization, teamwork, and a strong work | | | | boot camp type of environment, something has |
| ethic can have a dramatic affect on a | | | | to be done to teach our newest wave |
| | | | |
| drifting soul. By doing so, it can bring | | | | of workers the proper values to succeed in |
| order to lives and a sense of purpose, | | | | business and in life.Let me leave you with a |
| | | | real-life story on parenting in the |
| something that perhaps was neglected at | | | | workplace. Some time |
| home.Today's Drill Instructors and junior | | | | |
| officers also find themselves as surrogate | | | | ago I was visiting with a CIO in Columbus, |
| parents | | | | Ohio who took me on a tour of |
| | | | |
| and are now instructed in counseling young | | | | his facility. Along the way, we happened |
| soldiers. The boot camps of today are | | | | upon a young programmer who |
| | | | |
| a lot different than what the country | | | | was new to the company. Frankly, he looked |
| experienced during World War II, Korea, and | | | | a little wet behind the ears and |
| | | | |
| Viet Nam. Yet, we are producing a fine | | | | had long hair over his collar. After the |
| class of soldiers which makes our country | | | | CIO introduced me to the young man, he |
| | | | |
| proud. In other words, they must be doing | | | | instructed him to go get a haircut. The |
| something right.If we have learned anything | | | | young programmer, shot back |
| from the military in this regard, it is that | | | | |
| the | | | | indignantly, "You can't say that to me!"The |
| | | | CIO turned calmly but deliberately to the |
| times have changed and our employees today | | | | programmer, and said, |
| have different needs requiring | | | | |
| | | | "Yes I can. Watch," then pointing to his |
| a new type of manager who can adequately | | | | mouth, "Get a haircut. Now!"The programmer |
| tend to them. And like today's | | | | backed down and, to his credit, dutifully got |
| | | | a haircut.I had just witnessed a little |
| Drill Instructors and school teachers, | | | | "Parenting Management" in action. The CIO |
| managers are finding themselves in the | | | | |
| | | | exercised his authority and had quickly |
| role of surrogate parents, like it or not. | | | | instructed the newbie on one |
| Managers bristle at this notion. After all, | | | | |
| | | | of the rules to be observed in the |
| they want to get on with their business and | | | | workplace. The programmer's biological |
| do not want to be regarded as a | | | | |
| | | | parents hadn't instructed him properly, now |
| baby-sitter. But the fact remains, home | | | | it defaulted to his corporate |
| parenting skills are at an all-time low | | | | |
| | | | parent."Parenting Management" - Just |
| and to overcome this problem, someone has to | | | | remember, you heard it here first.Tim Bryce |
| assume the duty to compensate | | | | is the Managing Director of M. Bryce & |
| | | | Associates (MBA) of |
| for this inadequacy. Again, the military | | | | |
| readily understands this and has adapted | | | | Palm Harbor, Florida and has 30 years of |
| | | | experience in the field. He |
| accordingly. But can business?Understand | | | | |
| this, corporate America's "recruits" come | | | | is available for training and consulting on |
| predominantly from the | | | | an international basis. |
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