My message last time on the proper use of smart phones and a Business Tip on hiring Millennials created quite a stir.  Some people felt I was favoring the hiring of Millennials over Gen Xers and Baby Boomers, and that is simply not the case.  Employers need to hire for exactly what they need in the workplace.  I favor hiring mature people, regardless of their age – people who exhibit “adult” behavior.

One of the biggest problems in retail businesses today is generating Millennial traffic.  Millennials – all of us, really – are inclined to research and often purchase products of all kinds over the Internet.  Millennials know how Millennials think.  Few of the rest of us have figured that out.  Why not have them help you market and merchandise to what Millennials want?

But Gen Xers and Baby Boomers have something that Millennials necessarily don’t: EXPERIENCE!   Seasoned people in the older generations present a huge opportunity for employers.  Again, the key is to hire for what you need, when you need it, and not just hastily fill a position with any warm body.

Regarding the message on cell phone use, I had a very astute owner suggest to me that cell phones can be very effective security devices.  Being able to take a picture (or even the appearance of taking a picture) of a suspicious person or vehicle can be an excellent deterrent to crime.

The key in all this – intelligent hiring and the proper use of cell phones in the workplace – is simply a focus on common sense and sensibilities.  Smart phones can be great tools for business or annoying extensions of our being.  Mature people come in all ages.  The key is to find the right ones for what you need when you need them.

I hope this is helpful clarification, and as always, I welcome your comments.

Tags: Advice, Baby Boomer, Business Development, Business Tips, Developing Leaders, Employee, Employer, Gen X, Hire, Internet, Knowledge, Leaders, Leadership, Leadership Excellence, Leadership Problems, Leadership Skills, Management, Managers, Mature, Merchandise, Millenial, Opportunity, People, People Leaders, Phone, Reality, Security, Success, The Mind of a Leader, Traffic