Lessons Learned from Generation Y about Leadership, Inclusion, & Diversity
Purpose:
Generation Y students are known to be tech-savvy, feedback-dependent, and masters of the social media world. Older generations have found this particular generation to be frustrating, but what are the lessons that can be learned from this unique group of people? This educational session will explore the lessons learned from the millennials in three specific areas of interest: leadership, inclusion, and diversity. In addition to exploring these areas to further knowledge, participants will learn practical strategies for improving educational settings to promote student leadership, inclusive behavior, and promotion of increased diversity.
Methods and/or Description of Project:
Generation Y students are known to be tech-savvy, feedback-dependent, kinesthetic and visual learners.1 For those not of this age group, Generation Y can be a frustrating and difficult group to challenge and motivate to a deeper level of knowledge. Characteristics of Generation Y includes, but is not limited to: being self-reliant and willing to question authority2, demanding consumers with expectations of immediate service3, and being dependent on technology, which inspired the term “digital native” for this generation of student4.
These characteristics can lead to challenges within the academic environment5, but Generation Y students have different perspectives than older generations on topics such as leadership, inclusion, and diversity. The perspectives of the younger generation can provide lessons for educators to improve the future for physical therapy, both in the academic setting and in the diversity of the career field. These differences affect the academic culture and need to be addressed with appropriate strategies to ensure success for all students.
The view of leadership for Generation Y has been shown to create a unique set of challenges those in positions of management in the workforce.6,7 Generation Y leans toward a leadership style of collaboration and integration, which is not always supported in traditional organizational hierarchies.8 There is a need to understand the characteristics of this generation to provide insight into ways to motivate them to succeed in the workplace and in the educational setting. A recent qualitative study by the presenter on the perspective of leadership from Generation Y physical therapy students will be shared in the session. Themes which evolved from the focus groups targeted subjects such as: the definition of leadership, positive/negative outcomes of leadership, and the motivation to step into a leadership role. The responses of these subjects will be shared in the session, along with strategies for academic and clinical educators to promote leadership growth in today’s students.
Generation Y has been identified as the most diverse generation of our time.9 Due to the idea that diversity is commonplace for this generation does not correlate with this generation being inclusive, especially in the academic environment. Minority students continue to identify with feelings of inadequacy in healthcare programs due to a fear of confirming negative cultural stereotypes from other students.10 Students from Generation Y have a greater awareness of various cultures when compared to their counterparts of older generations, but this awareness has not improved their ability to be inclusive. Current physical therapy academic programs draw highly competitive students due to the nature of the application process and the popularity of the career field.11 This competitive attitude has a tendency to promote increased focus on self, instead of a focus on community. A lack of a culture of community can be a limiting factor to promoting inclusive learning environments.12
This educational course will address the need to understand the perspectives of Generation Y on the topics of leadership, inclusion, and diversity. Through this understanding, strategies will be shared for creating more inclusive academic cultures which support all students to promote successful matriculation.
Results/Outcomes:
Participants will have a greater understanding of the Generation Y perspectives which relate to leadership, inclusion, and diversity within the academic environment. Participants will learn practical strategies to enhance learning environments for academic programs, both in the classroom and clinical setting.
Conclusions/Relevance to the conference theme:
This session relates to the conference thematic area All Hands on Deck: Generations X, Y, Z Working as a Team – Crucial Conversations: Communicating with Each Other. At the conclusion of the session participants will be educated on strategies to guide the development of improved academic cultures in both the classroom and clinical setting. The participant will have a list of practical, take-home strategies to implement on return to the academic or clinical setting to further engage the Generation Y physical therapy student. The ultimate goal is to improve the collaboration between academic and clinical faculty to support all students to improve diversity within the field of physical therapy, both in leadership and clinical practice.