Author: Eric Chester

Publisher: Dearborn Trade Publishing

ISBN 1-4195-0458-4

The following review was contributed by:  Roger E. Herman & click to view Roger E. Herman's Reviews 

            

Much-Needed Book, Right on Target

If you are a business owner employing people between the ages of 16 and 24, buy, read, absorb, and apply this book. If you are a manager or supervisor in any kind of company where you are responsible for employees between the ages of 16 and 24, buy, read, absorb, and apply this book. If you are the confused parent of one or more children between the ages of 16 and 24, buy, read, absorb, and apply this book. If you are an educator of students between the ages of 16 and 24, buy, read, absorb, and apply this book. Are we communicating here?

OK, your first reaction is the profanity in the book title. Live with it! You will find the word a few places in the text, but it’s there to make a point. Yes, the writing is punchy, direct, and pushes the envelope of your thinking. However, so do the attitudes and behavior of your young people. We older folks (let’s say that term refers to all us gray beards over 35) need to wake up and smell the differences between today’s young workers and their counterparts in previous generations. They are different, and must be managed differently. Learn how and succeed. Ignore the lessons of this book and continue to pour profits down the drain by recruiting, training, recruiting, training, recruiting, training, ad nauseum.

Eric Chester is respected as the leading authority on this age group, assuming that anyone can be an expert on kidployees. As a consultant and author in the workforce field, I’m very comfortable telling you that the man is right-on in his writing as he is in his speaking. He’ll grab you at the beginning of the book and hold your attention with anecdotes (some from his own life) and lessons learned. In page after page, Chester presents knowledge, insight, techniques, and advice that—if heeded—can substantially strengthen a manager’s effectiveness.

In the first of five well-organized sections of the book, youll gain valuable perspectives about the 16-24 year olds (Generation Why), noting how and why they’re different…and how the difference can be a powerful asset for your company. Subsequent sections address how to attract, keep, and connect with this important employee group. The last section offers important insight into some employers who get it right…why and how. An index supplements the text, enabling you to go back to particular sections for refresher readings.

You will be amazed at how much the author has packed into this comfortably-sized book.

After you’re finished with your first reading, you’ll probably be inspired to buy copies for other managers in your organization. Wait. I take that back. That inspiration will come to you before you’ve finished with the book. It hit me somewhere about half through the pages.

Warning: if your competitor uses this book and you do not, you are in big trouble!