The Millennial Problem: Generational Differences in the Office |  |
- The Millennial Problem: Generational Differences in the Office
- New Apple iPad Mini Will be Here for the Holidays
- Is the Aio Wireless ZTE Velox Tablet For You?
- Nokia Introduces 6 Inch Phone with Business Functionality
- Small Business Owners Should “Think at the Margin”
| The Millennial Problem: Generational Differences in the Office Posted: 28 Oct 2013 04:00 PM PDT
Everyone with parents (or children) knows how hard it can be to connect with someone of a different generation. The microcosm of a small business is no exception to this rule where generational differences can often lead to misunderstandings and disrespect between coworkers. Over time, these disputes can erode employee morale and even affect the bottom line. Teri Hill of T. H. Enterprises, who coaches up-and-coming companies how to "lead across generations," describes these as conflicts arising from the generations' different backgrounds. She explains:
Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964 and currently holding the majority of leadership positions, came into age in a thriving business era which has made them to be hardworking and fiercely competitive in the workplace. According to Robert Avery of Cornell University, what this means for small business owners in particular is a matter of sheer evolution. Avery says:
In contrast, Millennials, who were born between 1980 and 2000, were raised to expect recognition for even their smallest accomplishments.
In laymens terms, Millennials were given whatever they wanted by indulgent Boomer parents – be it material items, awards or praise. As such, Millennials have the highest incidence of narcissism of any generation. For example, in 2006, college students scored 30% higher on the Narcissistic Personality Index than they did in 1979. This narcissism can only serve to foster conflicts in the workplace. Both Baby Boomers and Veterans (the generation born before 1946) value hard work and results which often puts them at odds with Millennials, who expect a steady stream of feedback and praise. Hill even described an incident where a Millennial was passed over for a raise and the employee's mother lobbied on her behalf until the department finally reconsidered. For the older generation, this is absurd entitlement, but for Millennials it's just an extension of the way they were raised. According to John Mason, contributing writer of Forbes, small business owners in particular need to focus on two main traits of the Millennial effect. Mason says:
Millennials are technological natives – growing up with technology at their fingertips – while Baby Boomers and Veterans are technological adopters. This disparity comes into play when picking and policing types of communication. Boomers and Veterans prefer face-to-face and phone conversations, while Millennials are more likely to text or email. They are also more likely to be on their phones during meetings and to use social media during the workday. The Millennial Problem: How You Can Address and Overcome DifferencesFirstly, recognize that these differences exist and that they account for many instances of perceived disrespect between coworkers. Many Boomers and Veterans are offended by Millennials' casual approach to authority, while Millennials may not understand the older generations' adherence to seemingly arbitrary rules and regulations. However, if the generations take some time to understand each other's backgrounds and values, they will recognize the role of generational differences in their office behavior. Once these differences have been recognized, you can start working on compromises. While Millennials do expect too much recognition, they do have valid points about communication and life balance. You should embrace new forms of communication – text, social media, etc. – and strive to offer employees more balance in their lives through telecommuting and flexible holidays. However, the older generations should hold firm on certain office etiquette. For example, employees shouldn't be allowed to use their phones during meetings or use casual language in their emails to clients and potential-clients. Hill explains:
The Millennial generation has a number of problems, but they are also the most open-minded and civic-oriented generation (PDF) currently in the office. If their concerns are taken into consideration, office culture might develop into a more open and inviting space for real productivity and decision-making. Rather than dismissing their views, the older generations should hear out and incorporate suggestions, setting the standard for bridging the gap for future generations to come. Millenial Photo via Shutterstock The post The Millennial Problem: Generational Differences in the Office appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| New Apple iPad Mini Will be Here for the Holidays Posted: 28 Oct 2013 01:30 PM PDT
Yes, Virginia. There is a Santa Clause. And he just may be putting Apple’s new mini tablet into your stocking. Forget previous rumors that problems in production might delay availability of the new iPad mini until after the Holidays. Apple said in a prepared release the newest generation of its smaller tablet should be available to consumers later in November. Here’s a quick overview of the device from Engagdet: Retina Display and Other FeaturesThe key feature being touted by Apple in its upgrade to the iPad mini is the addition of Retina display. Apple has defined this feature in the past as a screen display on which the number of pixels is so great the human eye can no longer perceive them individually. In this case, Apple says that’s equal to 3.1 million pixels with a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch. While the display has been available on other iPads, this is the first time it will be offered on a 7.9-inch Apple tablet display. Both the iPad mini and the iPad Air, the fifth generation of the iconic iPad, also feature the Apple designed A7 processing chip. The company says this too will make them much more powerful devices. For budget conscious business users who aren’t concerned about the smaller screen, the device will be available starting at $399 for the 16GB with Wi-Fi connection. Though additional cellular connection and greater storage capacity are available for a bit more money. Image: Engadget The post New Apple iPad Mini Will be Here for the Holidays appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Is the Aio Wireless ZTE Velox Tablet For You? Posted: 28 Oct 2013 11:00 AM PDT
Smartphone screens are just a wee bit small after you hold a 10-inch or 7-inch tablet. According to different research studies, smartphone users often purchase a tablet. My guess is that many business owners are also parents who are tired of giving up their smartphone when a child calls for a device. But they want a tablet that can be useful for work, too. If that sounds like you, then this review of the Aio Wireless ZTE Velox tablet is for you. A Look at the Aio Wireless ZTE Velox TabletAio Wireless is a no-contract cell phone provider (built on AT&T’s network) that also offers a tablet for $15/month. You purchase the ZTE Velox tablet first, for about $180 at press time, and then choose data plan options. Here are a few ZTE Velox tablet specs:
The device itself feels a bit heavier than other 7-inch tablets I have used, but not much heavier. You can hold it as a phone, in a pinch. So the 7-inch size is a good size for daily use, wandering around town or going from appointment to appointment. Particularly when you do not want to haul a laptop or need a slightly bigger screen (beyond your phone).
As someone who uses the Google Nexus 10 on a daily basis, I would not opt for the 7-inch personally. If I was only working from my Samsung S3 and wanted just a bit more screen, this size device is perfect and I would buy it. What I Really Like:
What I Would Like to See:
Despite my two small concerns, the ZTE Velox tablet is a solid tablet that can serve as a small business workhorse at an affordable price with a built in 3G wireless and WiFi capability. You can find more powerful tablets, but not in this price range, with these options, without a contract. If you have been in the market for a tablet with loads of good features and one that lets you work remotely, the ZTE Velox from Aio Wireless is a great candidate. Aio Wireless sent me a short term media loaner for this review. Images: Aio The post Is the Aio Wireless ZTE Velox Tablet For You? appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Nokia Introduces 6 Inch Phone with Business Functionality Posted: 28 Oct 2013 08:00 AM PDT
Nokia’s new Lumia 1520 may be a big investment. The 6-inch phablet available in red, white, yellow, or black will have a suggested retail price of $749 and will be available soon. Nokia wants you to sign up to learn when the device will be available in stores. But the phone/tablet hybrid seems to include considerable functionality for the price. For example, the Lumia 1520′s full 1080p HD screen resolution and updated version of Windows Phone 8 help take full advantage of the largest display on a Nokia phone yet. There is room for a third column of Live Tiles, the go-to spaces on Windows Phone for your most used apps, content and functions. Here’s a quick overview of the device’s specs from TechBuffalo: Nokia’s New 6 Inch Phone has Business Capabilities TooThe screen on the Lumia 1520 is large enough for you to run business apps like Microsoft Office, which is included with the new phone. At the Nokia World event in Abu Dhabi, Nokia CEO and soon-to-be head of Microsoft’s devices division Stephen Elop demonstrated running and editing an Excel spreadsheet on the new phablet. The phone also offers considerable memory: 7 GB in the cloud via Microsoft’s SkyDrive and 32GB of internal memory extended to 64GB with added external memory. The phone also has a 20MP Pure View camera has an enhanced sensor that Nokia says works well even in low-light settings. A Budget OptionIf the Lumia 1520 is still too expensive for your business budget, Nokia also unveiled a lower cost option this week. The Lumia 1320 Windows Phone offers comparative specs at less than half the price. Features include:
Could either of these phones function as your mobile office? Image: Nokia The post Nokia Introduces 6 Inch Phone with Business Functionality appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Small Business Owners Should “Think at the Margin” Posted: 28 Oct 2013 05:00 AM PDT
If you ask an economist for advice on how to make a good business decision, he or she is likely to tell you to think at the margin. This means comparing the cost and benefit of an additional action. My conversations with small business owners suggest that many of them do not follow this advice, which surprises me. Consider the following example: You own a four-bedroom bed-and-breakfast on the Jersey Shore. A woman calls you up on a Monday morning in February to ask if you'd rent her a room for that Wednesday night for $65. Should you take her offer? Think at the MarginThe Revenue SideIn the summer, you are always fully booked, and get $350 per night on the weekends and $250 per night during the week. In the fall, weekend visitors pay $200 per night, while weeknight occupants spend $125. However, weekdays in the dead of winter are another story. In February, you receive very few inquiries – about three per month – not even close to the number it would take to fill your place. Since you live in the house, you can't shut the place down. Instead, you operate a mostly empty bed-and-breakfast all winter long. Given the number of inquiries you receive in February, the odds are essentially zero that you will receive enough inquiries in the next 24 hours to fill all of your rooms. If you don't rent to the bargain hunter who has just called, you are going to have an empty room for the night. The Cost SideYou have a pretty good handle on your costs. You spend $400 per month on your utilities and $2,000 on your mortgage. Insurance adds another $100 per month. You spend about $300 per month on general upkeep and $300 to advertise the business. Those costs alone set you back $25 per room per day – 365 days a year. You also pay your cleaning person $25 to clean a room. It costs you $5 in ingredients to make breakfast for a guest. You value your time at $30 an hour and you spend an average of one hour per guest (between doing all the paperwork to book a room, making breakfast and answering questions.) What Economic Theory Says To DoMicroeconomic theory indicates that the lowest offer you should take is the one that exceeds your marginal cost. That's $60 – the $25 to clean the room; $5 in breakfast ingredients; and $30 for your time. Those are the costs that you incur only if you take the prospective guest's deal. The cost of your utilities, mortgage, insurance, upkeep and advertising don't matter. Those are sunk costs – past expenditures that cannot be recouped. Whether you take the guest's deal or turn her down, you are still paying them. Many small business owners find it difficult to take the $65 offer. They think about how little revenue the deal would bring in. How much more money the rooms generate in the summer months; how high their average costs are and even how much they hate bargain hunters. But none of those things change the basic equation: If someone offers you marginal revenue that exceeds your marginal cost and no better alternative comes along, it's in your interest to take the deal – think at the margin. Margin Photo via Shutterstock The post Small Business Owners Should “Think at the Margin” appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
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