Guest column: Outlining rules for success

Tom Layson / guest Columnist

Dear Generation Y:

Welcome to the workplace. We value your new ideas, technical skills, energy and enthusiasm. Your parents spared no expense making sure your needs were met, that you felt great about yourself and were entirely safe. With that said, there are a few things you should know.

Just participating doesn’t make you a success. Respect and rewards come with time and a proven track record of accomplishment.

New ideas are good, but you’re not always going to get your way. The team or the boss might take a pass on your proposals. Don’t sulk and feel disrespected; keep refining your thoughts and learning.

There is a chain of command. Yes our organizational lives are going to change, but it’s going to be evolution, not revolution. Look for mentors. You’ll be amazed at how many of the “old” people want to share and coach you if you’ll let them.

We know you like to multi-task, but staying on-task is vital, too. You have to do what you say you are going to do and see things through to the end. Texting during meetings is considered rude by many of the people with whom you work.

It’s good to find meaning and fulfillment in your job, but you have to remember that your job isn’t about you — it’s about your employer.

There is no doubt you should work hard and strategically position yourself to receive the maximum amount of pay and benefits you can, but they are not an entitlement. You are not owed the lifestyle today that others have worked decades to build. Employers are eager to hire you because you’re young and cheap now, and have great potential for later.

You still have to dress for success. It may seem old fashioned, but people just will not respect you with too much skin showing, droopy pants or flip flops on your feet. If you’ve got “ink” or a piercing, keep it a secret.

As improbable as it seems, you might not be correct about something. The word for that is “wrong.” You also might be made to feel uncomfortable at times if you’re reprimanded or asked to re-try an assignment. Your rights aren’t being violated. Should you tolerate a toxic workplace? Of course not. Might you have something to learn? Yep.

Please don’t involve your parents. We know your parents have made a habit of interacting with your teachers and even college professors, but the time has come for that to end.

You might have to wait. It’s called “delayed gratification.”

Just because you don’t know about it doesn’t mean it’s unimportant. History matters. Past successes and failures matter. Institutional knowledge, traditions and brand promises matter.

So there you have it. We think your success-orientation, desire for quality, solid technical knowledge, diversity and community-mindedness will be a big plus. You are going to change the workplace and make the work-to-life balance better for all of us.

Best of luck.

You can link to Puyallup resident Tom Layson’s blog through www.wipcr.com.