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