Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/132471
business bests employees, but most of them are like this," she points out. "Not everyone can get those top 10 to 20 percent of employees who are (mature) adults." Employee development So what's a landscape-company owner to do? First of all, they might want to temper expectations. Corey Blanck has heard many Gen Y horror stories, like the employees who balk at menial tasks to those who ask if it's OK to come in late on certain days to accommodate their social lives. And they often find it difficult if they advance to a supervisory position because they don't want to hurt the feelings of direct reports with whom they've become friends. "Managers will need to push them out of selfabsorbed mode — make them make decisions based on the greater good of the organization," she says. Supervisors also must become much more hands-on, developmental managers, Corey Blanck says. Gone are the days when rushed, harried managers could hand off simple projects to employees with minimal direction, under the assumption they'd use old-fashioned Yankee ingenuity to figure out the best way to move and spread that pile of mulch and generally just get things done. "They'll need to get to know employees in a more personal way," Corey Blanck says. "Instead of solving a problem for them, managers will have to walk them through their thoughts … and discuss what kind of resources are available." Managers should also talk candidly to employees about their deficiencies. "They'll need to sit down with these employees and discuss specific experiences they want them to navigate," Corey Blanck explains. "Whether they fail or succeed isn't even the point. It's all about learning through new challenges and experiences. If you never fail, you never truly know who you are." Gen Yers will also demand more dialogue and communication. That means you'll have to /tlcmagazine Enter to win here Refer a landscaper here /totallandscapecare iveaway G Will you make the cut? Partnering with Exmark, we will pick one lucky landscaper to win the Commercial 30 mower as part of our Editor's Picks Giveaway. Delivering a 30-inch cut, Exmark's Commercial 30 mower has a single-speed transmission and front-height adjusters. The mower weighs 170 pounds, holds 1 gallon of gas and includes a rear-discharge bagger with the option to mulch or side discharge. For your chance at winning this powerful mower, enter at totallandscapecare.com/mower by Aug. 14. Win a Mower! 2 6 To ta l L a n d s cap eCare.c om for your chance to win! 4 j u n e 2 013 ExMark_EdPicks_Giveaway_Half_hz_ad_0513.indd 1 TLC0613_BusBest07.indd 26 Enter b y Aug. 1 5/23/13 9:09 AM 5/23/13 1:57 PM