Today, a common area of crisis for managers is the area of written communications: proposals, e-mails, memos, and marketing materials. With the advent of personal digital devices, asynchronous text messaging and instant messaging (IMs), a new shorthand language has been created that is used extensively by Millennials.

Traditionalists and Boomers are caught feeling a little off-balance. They are scrambling to catch up with the technology savvy Gen Xers and Millennial employers/employees, who view the paradigm of technology as the ultimate solution. Graded on the three R’s as children, Traditionalists and Boomers place great value on high proficiency in Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. Leaders frequently lament that grammar has become a significant and growing issue. Millennials are often so comfortable and proficient with “short-hand” texting that they don’t understand the grammar rules or even see the errors in their writing. Unfortunately, this issue is often hidden or further compounded by the active participation of Boomer parents who review and correct
their Millennials’ term papers and assignments before their teachers see them. Many parents have extended their support into college and then the workforce by reviewing Millenials’ resumes, proposals, pitches, and often sensitive or confidential work product. For the Millennials, it’s a bit of a jolt when their Baby Boomer boss is not only unwilling to do the same, but upset that Millenials are exposing the company to security issues.

Generationally Savvy Solution: For leaders with jobs that require strong writing skills, be explicit (not expectant) about writing requirements early on in the interview process. Ask for a writing sample in

real-time. (Yes, have the interviewee write an essay in his or her own handwriting during the interview process.) His resume, cover letter, and references have probably all been managed by his parents, and all too often will not be an accurate reflection of a work product you can expect to be delivered by the Millennial alone, but a “mash-up” of the skills of his Boomer parents, teachers, career service professionals, and even personal coaches. You can complain and get a lot of agreement from other exasperated colleagues, or you can get savvy. One path wastes a lot of time and energy, but you get to be right about how you had it harder in your day. However, you’ll still end up frustrated with an employee who makes mistakes you don’t think he should.