Managing Generation X: How to Bring Out the Best in Young Talent. - book reviews

Entrepreneur, Jan, 1996 by Debra Phillips

ARE Generation X employees a bunch of spoiled, complaining underachievers-or are they merely misunderstood? Author/Xer Bruce Tulgan argues in favor of the latter perspective in Managing Generation X: How to Bring Out the Best in Young Talent (Merritt Publishing, $22.95 paper).

"Too many Xers are being poorly managed and the costs are too high to leave this problem unremedied," Tulgan insists. "When managers fail to understand the needs and expectations of Xers and are therefore unable to manage Xers effectively, they diminish one of the most valuable resources at their disposal."

As Tulgan sees it, the youth of today are the beneficiaries of undue criticism-and he's determined to set the record straight. He's not going into the trenches alone, however: Managing Generation X is packed with personal horror stories out of the mouths of fellow Xers. In short, this is Generation X 101.

Unless you, too, were raised on MTV, you might want to put this tome at the top of your reading list. Don't let a generation gap divide your business and subtract from your success.