Max Hansen
CEO, Y Scouts, Inc.

With baby boomers retiring and millennials entering the workforce, the concept of work constantly changes shape. Now, younger generations refuse to view work as an exchange of time for pay. And with research showing that by 2030 millennials will make up nearly 75 percent of the global workforce, it’s more important than ever to pay attention to the evolving concept of work.

Three events altered how people perceived being part of a team. Parents asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” With millennials, that question became, “What do you want to be a part of?”

9/11
The September 11 attacks signaled a wake-up call: our lives could be snuffed out at any moment. We spend three-quarters of our lives in the workplace — so building great teams in a positive environment rose in importance.

Crash of 2008
Many millennials watched their parents work tirelessly at jobs they didn’t enjoy just to bring money home — no matter how miserable work was. Fast-forward: in the 2015 Deloitte Millennial Survey, six in 10 respondents said “sense of purpose” is part of the reason they chose their current employer.

Evolution of Technology
Technology has also changed team building. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, millennials are 2.5 times more likely to be early adopters of technology than are older generations. Those in Generation Z are also adept researchers, based on the tools they’re exposed to. They know how to find information. Up to 30 percent watch lessons online, 20 percent read textbooks on tablets, and 32 percent work with classmates online. As technology changes, so does the idea of incorporating it into team building and fostering an innovative culture.

Building great teams is at the crux of today’s workforce. The end result of placing leaders into better cultures? More productive employees who feel like they provide value. Since the employment rate is so low, employment agencies are seeing executive-level leaders negotiate right when they walk in the door. These executives are focused on salaries at $300k and require to be channeled to understand the role, the impact and what the company does first. A perfect culture fit ceases negotiations. Choosing culture over cash has changed today’s concept of team building.

The low employment rate has also pushed companies and individuals to evaluate each other during the hiring process. Instead of opening the interview by discussing hard skills or role specifics, employers must ask about the candidate. Then, open up about the company and culture. What does everyone do outside the office? What team-building exercises does the company engage in? Today, these seemingly small factors help match a perfect fit for the purpose of culture.

Team building used to be done: post jobs and pray. But neither party ended up happy.

Candidates enter interviews wearing a mask. When asked more deep-diving questions, it proves you care about the candidate on a personal level. Jumping into hard skills — “Describe what you did at your last job” — never reveals the candidate’s authentic side. The mask remains, and the candidate won’t buy into your culture unless you start with personality and move on to purpose, values, leadership philosophy and culture.

It’s a premier method to build teams today, particularly with younger generations shifting how we approach work.

Y Scouts, Inc. is highly respected as pioneers of a Purpose Based Leadership Search Firm on a global scale with a focus on U.S. based companies headquartered out of Scottsdale, AZ. Max and his team have had the privilege of working with some of the most purpose and values-driven companies in the U.S. www.yscouts.com.

TEAMS SEMINAR

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2017  –  9:00 AM TO 12:30 PM

Topics covered: buyer’s agents, listing specialists, hiring assistants, team agreements, compensation plans, team branding, lead distribution, client services and benefits, and much more.

Advance Tuition: $40   At The Door Tuition: $50

Credit: 3 hrs Commissioner’s Standards