Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Phil Putnam
The theme of this episode is leading cross-generationally. With four generations currently in the workforce, everyone needs to be aware of how to influence and motivate the people we work with. You don’t want to miss this!
Phil Putnam, speaker and author of 'Desired Based Leadership' is on the cusp of Gen X and Millennial groups. In his 20 years as a team member and executive leader within world-class tech organizations including Apple and Adobe, he now shares his most valuable lessons.
He talks about the importance of prioritizing employee desires to drive business results, because the investment has a multiplier effect in productivity and loyalty. By contrast, the cost of attrition is crippling and he explains the math. Phil's experiences and understanding of the evolving workforce dynamics highlight the need for leaders to adapt their strategies to build safety and satisfaction among employees.
Phil gives a short historical background of why each generation has a different relationship with work, different motivators and different way of viewing hierarchy. He calls out how positional power is changing and emphasizes the necessity for empathy and adaptability in leadership.
How we work is changing, particularly as the workforce majority shifts from Baby Boomers to the Millennial / Gen Z group. In this conversation, we discuss how understanding the needs and values of different generations can lead to better workplace engagement and results. Listen in to understand how this applies to your world!
QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:
“A leader’s function is to drive results through people.”
"You don't get results by putting the employers' needs first. You get the results you want by putting the employees' needs first and… what they want for their life.”
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Leaders should prioritize employee desires to drive results.
- Desire-Based Leadership focuses on what employees want in life.
- The cost of employee attrition is significant.
- Generational differences in their relationship with employment impact leadership and motivation strategies.
- Toxic loyalty in Gen X-ers can hinder employee satisfaction and retention.
- Effective leadership requires understanding and adapting to generational needs.
- Leaders must navigate their styles based on audience and context.
- Appealing to self-focused loyalty yields better results.
- GenZ-ers are open to a patchwork of income sources.
- Boomers value authority and title more than younger generations.
- Work-life balance is a significant concern for younger generations.
- Millennials and Gen Z prioritize their time over loyalty to employers.
- Communication styles differ greatly across generations.
- Generational trauma influences work attitudes.
LINKS FROM EPISODE:
Phil Putnam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philputnamspeaks/
Website: https://www.philputnam.com/
Book:
Desire-Based Leadership: A Manager’s Unexpected Key to Driving Top Performance https://amzn.to/3EUROhP
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