I’m Gen Y and I have worked in Mid Tier professional service firms for the last 8 years. I’ve noticed something in that time and I wonder if you’d listen to what I’ve noticed and let me know if you’ve seen what I’ve seen.

Straight off, let’s take a moment to define a part of Gen Y. The first of us were born in the late 70’s. That means this initial wave was about;

•           15 years old when the internet hit (the time when web based procrastination instead of studying for exams is was forged);
•           18 when Windows98 was released (when LAN parties and home networks were pioneered); and
•           21 when Napster rolled on the scene (when I learnt that other computer nerds might have something that I want so maybe I should seek them out).

My point is that without even trying, the first wave of Gen Y was awesome at using computers in everyday life to find, sort, share and manage information. We also reinvented communication.

Now let’s take a moment to define a part of all generations that preceded Gen Y. Ceterus paribus, on their first day of work in a professional environment they sucked at everything they did and then got better and better on a daily basis until 10 or so years later they were at the peak of their powers.

But when Gen Y turned up for our first day at work we sucked at everything too except one thing. We pwned at the side of work that employed computers. I can honestly say that at every job I’ve held down over the last 10 years, I’ve been the IT ‘go to guy’ yet I’ve never studied IT for one minute. It was just the birthright of being born in 1979.

What this has meant to me is that all my bosses and managers have always been wrong on 90% of what computer based guidance they have given me. I’ve always had to reengineer every computer based process that I’ve been introduced to. I’ve had to tolerate years of inefficient and ineffective processes because my superiors have been unable to create better ones for no other reason than my age.

Now that I am 31 and am reaching the level where I am expected to supervise and manage many processes, what I am finding is this. I don’t trust anyone older than me and I am frustrated that I have to ‘dumb down’ each process I create to make it accessible to older generations. This annoys me greatly. The first point makes it difficult to take on a mentor; the second point makes it hard for me to hit my straps.

So what I’ve noted is this, I’m faced with a choice. Dumb down my abilities but stay compatible with my senior colleagues or unleash to the raw awesome power of Web 2.0 but lose the experience of generations. Now which should I chose?

If you have shared my experiences, I’d love to hear about them. I understand that top tier professions don’t have this problem as they can afford to address this issue directly (i.e. Deloitte have Deloitte Digital and the Deloitte Leadership Program) but if you are mid tier, please comment.