YMP: “Will the new leader please stand up...?”
On 28 January, in Nyenrode’s Coach House, eighteen people attended a series of introductory lectures on the YMP (Your Leadership Development Program). The theme of the day was “Will the new leader please stand up...?”
Target group: Generation Y versus the rest
During the meeting, YMP program director Marjan Lubbers
spoke about the position of ‘Generation Y’ – people born
between 1970 and 1985. This generation has grown up
in a period of considerable prosperity and stability, without
scarcity or crisis. They have witnessed the coming of the
computer age and have been raised in the heyday of the
‘polder model’ of Dutch consensual politics.
There are a great many differences between generations. For example,
in mentality, the way in which they make decisions, communicate and
resolve conflicts, and the way in which they learn. In comparison with
other post-war generations (Babyboomers: 1940 – 1955; Generation X:1955 – 1970; Generation Einstein: 1985 – 2000),
Generation Y has a number of distinguishing features. This generation is relatively open, direct and informal, and wants to be
guided by the ‘content’. They are not so patient, they look for dynamic situations, and they want to get to the point during
discussions. In addition, they go in for self-development and want explicit opportunities.
Managers from Generation Y are the YMP’s target group. They frequently manage people from Generation Einstein, and are in turn managed by people from Generation X. And because of the differences between the generations, this often results in tension.
Field of Tension
Generation Y has to learn to deal with the tensions between themselves (as subordinates) and Generation X, and between themselves (as managers) and Generation Einstein.
To be an effective manager, you have to ‘do the right things right’, says Lubbers. A good manager has to be able to:
- Choose a direction and maintain an overview of its consequences
- ‘Build’ effective relationships
- Exert an influence ‘upwards, ‘sideways’ and ‘downwards’
- Make sure that the right people are doing the right things at the right time
- Get to know his/her own intentions and the intentions of others
- Know him/herself!
However, these are not always Generation Y’s strong points. This is because they are, in comparison with other generations:
- Impatient and easily bored
- Sure of themselves
- Still lacking in self-reflection
- Apolitical (concentrating too much on content, and too little on the ‘game’)
- Not given to building or breaking down (relationships)
YMP - Your Leadership Development Program
The YMP can help managers from Generation Y develop the leadership skills that are required to become a more effective manager. The program teaches them to maintain a balance between content, relationships and intentions in the context of a complex network of ‘stakeholders’.
The aim of this is to teach managers how to achieve their desired results in a way that is effective for them personally, while also garnering the support of stakeholders.
Other Lectures
In addition to the lecture by Marjan Lubbers, the introductory day included lectures by Richard Janssen (Google as a
successful business case) and Erik van Nieuwpoort (personal leadership).
Read more about the YMP - Your Leadership Development Program
Please mail your comments on this article to: Businesstopics@nyenrode.nl