Love Fridays!

quick moment to acknowledge special day today?

The Mary fan club is here! <3

We're all part of Mary's fan club!

aw

Yes Katie! It's amazing what you can do when you're pushed.

And welcome Modern Language Association as our newest Organizational Member!!!

Ditto - welcome to MLA. Language is important!

yes, welcome to MLA.

Welcome MLA...I was a member years ago...French and Spanish major

This is good advice for all of us.

Yes it is important to develop relatinoships with your colleagues adn then it is easier to approach them with new ideas.

Diane, love, that, "super power!" and Passion. Thank you to you and your company for joining NYSAE as an organizational member! We appreciate your participation!

great idea Katie - give them a small project to give them an added sense of responsibility and involvement, and to see how they rise to the occasion.

When asking for new ideas, be sure you know how they want to be recognized so they know you value their ideas-- I inadvertently alienated a GenZer who hated to be recognized for her contributions, but others DEMAND to be given public credit. Gotta know your audience.

I would say that some of the younger associates with whom I’ve worked have great perspectives that should definitely be heard, but they’re not always great about communicating their ideas, managing up or understanding office politics. They also likely weren’t around when we may have tried out their idea already, none of which are any of their fault. What I try to do is to get to the core of what they’re saying. Perhaps they’re pitching a new software. Instead of focusing solely on the attributes of that one piece of software, find out the core reasoning behind the recommendation. What is the problem that needs to be solved? What issue do they see that maybe we are not seeing? Keep asking why.

Yes Christine!!!

I have always urged younger associates to not just report a problem but suggest solutions. Critical thinking!

@Jennifer, YES!

I always thought asking all the questions was annoying. Thank you for clarifying!

sometimes floating a new idea by one colleague in an informal setting and asking them for critique can win them over. Think about what motivates each person to help drive your approach.

And times change! What didn't work before could be amazingly wonderful now.

“We tried that years ago and it didn’t work” has been said generation after generation.

Jennifer YES! there is nothing more frustrating than having a younger associate come in with an issue and sit there and instead of providing a series of possible solutions, wait for me to come up with several things to try.

Exactly right Katie "massage" the already tried idea. It could work!

Yes Judy- that's a standard answer that discourages innovation.

We all also have fixed ideas, whether we admit it or not. It's key to be open to new ways of thinking and new ideas (or old ideas recast), now especially, and probe how those might work.

In improvisation work, they teach you to reply with YES AND, instead of NO, to keep the conversation going. Innovation.

Good point Jennifer.

And technology can now take an old idea and make it very workable now.

“No, doesn’t get us there.” I love it!

“those older generations” lol

I love the board member who says, "Why do we need to spend time on social media? How does that bring in money?"

Great discussion. Thanks, all.

Yes Mary!

Mary Patterson, well said. Great overview.

Mentorship is sooooo important. That helped me, still does.

Thanks, all! Great talk!

Thanks, Kaylee

She learns from you too Kaylee!

Yes!

Kaylee, thanks for sharing that. You point out that people may be going through things and so never assume someone's story.

Some mistakes that I continue to see are our young workers hoping for – or expecting – a promotion within three or six months after taking on a new job. This, to me and many of my colleagues, seems insane, but perhaps, to the younger worker, they believe it makes them look ambitious or they believe they have ‘put in their time’ and deserve to be acknowledged. I’ve tried to figure out how to explain to them that loyalty runs both directions, and that it would look much better to demonstrate a desire to grow and learn in your industry in ways other than asking for promotions.- Take on leadership roles within the organization when you can;- Pursue professional development activities and ensure your higher-ups know what you’re doing (w/o being a snob);- Make yourself useful and INDISPENSABLE!

awesome job Ashley!

Thank you everyone!!!!

Thanks, Ashley

And Holly

Thank you all.

Great program - thank you Ashley, Katie, Mary, and all the chat contributors!

Great job Ashley!