Workforce Trends
same time, I can be a resource for
you administratively. Most of you
don’t want to be bothered arguing
for funds and dealing with the
bureaucracy. I’m good at that. So
let me run interference and allow
you to focus on your science. This is
not a perfect world. But I’m hoping
that you will respect me as I work
to make your jobs easier and more
productive.”
The jury is still out, but the
tension has subsided. Rather than
stony silence, Maria is slowly
winning over the more recalcitrant
contributors. One of them even
teased her the other day in a
friendly-sort-of way.
Foster cross-gen dependence. In
his job as an engineering manager,
Mark watched with fascination as
Fall on your sword.
22
November 2014
the company hired its first cohort
of Millennial engineers. As this
happened, the veteran professionals
‘circled the wagons’ in meetings,
during lunch, even on job sites.
Of course, his younger charges
responded in kind. Taking advantage
of the business’ nature, he stopped
asking for who wanted to work
on a particular project and instead
began assigning roles, balancing
emerging and seasoned engineers.
There was resistance from both
sides at first.
After a few weeks of this, he
called an all-hands meetings and
brought in someone from the
outside to facilitate a conversation
about these behaviours. Within
a couple of days of hashing it
around, he reinforced his decision
to integrate project teams. There