Young people afraid to make calls??

Johnnyhpipe

I’m in my mid 30’s. I work in a busy environment which involves dealing with lots of different people every day.

I work with a few guys in their early 20s who seem absolutely terrified to make bloody phone calls! Sometimes to the point that I’d ask if they heard back from the particular person I asked him to call yesterday and they either didn’t ring at all (hoping it will all go away) or sent an email in order to avoid the call..

Is this the effect of the social media generation? Simply lacking important communication skills?

I thought it was just me, but a lot of guys I know in similar practices are having the same problem with younger graduates.

boreder

Johnnyhpipe wrote: »

I’m in my mid 30’s. I work in a busy environment which involves dealing with lots of different people every day.

I work with a few guys in their early 20s who seem absolutely terrified to make bloody phone calls! Sometimes to the point that I’d ask if they heard back from the particular person I asked him to call yesterday and they either didn’t ring at all (hoping it will all go away) or sent an email in order to avoid the call..

Is this the effect of the social media generation? Simply lacking important communication skills?

I thought it was just me, but a lot of guys I know in similar practices are having the same problem with younger graduates.

Did you ask them, or just ask random people on the internet to avoid the conversation? :pac:

I think it was always a problem with young workers but yes it is probably getting worse.

Starting out you probably aren't as confident and don't know what to say if something doesn't go according to the script. That goes away with experience and practice.

Big Nasty

If it's in any way IT related I've found they do not even want a phone on their desk.

shar01

It's lack of confidence with real live people. Bunch of new starts where I work. Some of them don't make eye contact and one guy almost jumped into the wall when I said hello to him (I'm not that scary... honestly).

And don't get me started on the mammies ringing up on their behalf to confirm attendance for interview :mad:

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

jr86

What's the nature of the calls? I make and receive 10-15 calls on a given day so am well used to it myself.

However Sales calls, for example, can be daunting for many. There is a strong likelihood of rejection and even complete dismissal.
The idea of speaking to a higher level contact can be off putting too for younger inexperienced workers.

Personally if it can be done via email, i prefer to email. If I could get rid of my work phone I would as all I receive are a plethora of sales calls (i work in marketing) offering ad space, event tickets etc.

The only time I really need to call is if I'm doing a weekly catch up with contractors and need specific information off them. Email covers most things in this day and age and is less time consuming

Mongfinder General

Johnnyhpipe wrote: »

I’m in my mid 30’s. I work in a busy environment which involves dealing with lots of different people every day.

I work with a few guys in their early 20s who seem absolutely terrified to make bloody phone calls! Sometimes to the point that I’d ask if they heard back from the particular person I asked him to call yesterday and they either didn’t ring at all (hoping it will all go away) or sent an email in order to avoid the call..

Is this the effect of the social media generation? Simply lacking important communication skills?

I thought it was just me, but a lot of guys I know in similar practices are having the same problem with younger graduates.

A lot of this reticence relates to the very real prospect of being recorded. The information can be disseminated and used against the caller or recipient of the call. Solicitors and Barristers are slippery as fcuk anyway. The best bet nowadays is to use email in small doses and discuss issues in person. That way you can kick to touch and escalate to your boss to fob off responsibility.

jr86

shar01 wrote: »

It's lack of confidence with real live people. Bunch of new starts where I work. Some of them don't make eye contact and one guy almost jumped into the wall when I said hello to him (I'm not that scary... honestly).

Settling into a new work environment can be very daunting for some. Particularly if they've never done a real "9 to 5" before. once they settle in I'm sure they'll be fine

We had two team members last year, one fairly introverted but always got his work done - and to a great standard, the other a real loud mouth - loved nothing more than walking around the office bouncing ideas around and attending meetings, when his actual output was absolutely minimal at the end of the day.

Wanderer78

I wonder does anti-social media have anything to do with this? Is it inducing some form of complex behavioural issues into our societies, maybe some form of autism, or something that resembles some form of autism?

Del2005

Mongfinder General wrote: »

A lot of this reticence relates to the very real prospect of being recorded. The information can be disseminated and used against the caller or recipient of the call. Solicitors and Barristers are slippery as fcuk anyway. The best bet nowadays is to use email in small doses and discuss issues in person. That way you can kick to touch and escalate to your boss to fob off responsibility.

So someone afraid of having a record of a conversation sends an email instead which is a record of what they want to say If you are afraid of saying something on the phone and being recorded you can be recorded when talking to the person so should have the same issues.

Sleeper12

Wanderer78 wrote:

I wonder does anti-social media have anything to do with this? Is it inducing some form of complex behavioural issues into our societies, maybe some form of autism, or something that resembles some form of autism?

I'm autistic and the OP sounds quite like me. I'm 50 so older than his co workers. I can receive a call from clients easily enough but it's very difficult to me to make a call.

My son is autistic and can't talk to strangers at all on the phone. Even to family and friends he is restricted to yes and no & answers on the phone.

shar01

jr86 wrote: »

Settling into a new work environment can be very daunting for some. Particularly if they've never done a real "9 to 5" before. once they settle in I'm sure they'll be fine

Totally agree. For some it's their first "proper" job. But to ignore a "hello" or "how's it going" speaks to me of lack of confidence.

I wonder is it a hangover from the recession - fewer young people were able to get jobs in the summer holidays and missed out on the life skills that come with stacking shelves and working on a check-out.

Batgurl

I agree with OP. Modern day workers have almost a fear or phobia towards making calls but it’s part of a bigger issue of people no longer being able to deal with conflict and (on a grander scale) being unable to cope with the unexpected or as they call it “ adulting”.

As a manager I’ve implemented a strict “if you are sick, you have to call” policy ie no texting or emailing, and the sick leave has plummeted.

I’m slowly trying to educate them in dealing with conflict and growing a thicker skin but it’s baffling. I genuinely had someone ask me yesterday if I could not tell them about all the mistakes they make and instead could focus on the good things they do as they needed the validation. I’m all for a happy balance but WHAT?!?

jr86

jr86 wrote: »

Settling into a new work environment can be very daunting for some. Particularly if they've never done a real "9 to 5" before. once they settle in I'm sure they'll be fine

We had two team members last year, one fairly introverted but always got his work done - and to a great standard, the other a real loud mouth - loved nothing more than walking around the office bouncing ideas around and attending meetings, when his actual output was absolutely minimal at the end of the day.

The second guy sounds like he'll end up in management, already showing most of the qualities of a team manager.

I think it depends on the industry your in and how much training their given. In IT myself and I've known some who can handle people shouting at them down the phone because an issue hasn't been resolved yet and others who will just use mail to avoid being shouted at.
I've seen people with the deer in the headlights look on their faces when asked to handle an issue for an area that they haven't been given any training in and to go on a call right now with a customer, it's probably been on mine a few times too. I try to tell them to just get as much information as they can from the customer and explain that they need to check up on the issue and that they will get back to them in x hours/days.

Wanderer78

Sleeper12 wrote:

I'm autistic and the OP sounds quite like me. I'm 50 so older than his co workers. I can receive a call from clients easily enough but it's very difficult to me to make a call.

Autistic myself, I'd have similar issues to yourself and your son, but I suspect social media might actually be strangely inducing autistic like traits into society

shar01

Batgurl wrote: »

I agree with OP. Modern day workers have almost a fear or phobia towards making calls but it’s part of a bigger issue of people no longer being able to deal with conflict and (on a grander scale) being unable to cope with the unexpected or as they call it “ adulting”.

As a manager I’ve implemented a strict “if you are sick, you have to call” policy ie no texting or emailing, and the sick leave has plummeted.

I’m slowly trying to educate them in dealing with conflict and growing a thicker skin but it’s baffling. I genuinely had someone ask me yesterday if I could not tell them about all the mistakes they make and instead could focus on the good things they do as they needed the validation. I’m all for a happy balance but WHAT?!?

Did you keep a straight face? Say hello to my little friend - P45.

Mongfinder General

Del2005 wrote: »

So someone afraid of having a record of a conversation sends an email instead which is a record of what they want to say If you are afraid of saying something on the phone and being recorded you can be recorded when talking to the person so should have the same issues.

You have time to think when composing an email but not when you’re put on a be spot on the phone. You can always defer to the hierarchy if you don’t have confidence in your own opinion. You could be recorded in person but that would be unusual.

Johnnyhpipe

Batgurl wrote: »

I agree with OP. Modern day workers have almost a fear or phobia towards making calls but it’s part of a bigger issue of people no longer being able to deal with conflict and (on a grander scale) being unable to cope with the unexpected or as they call it “ adulting”.

As a manager I’ve implemented a strict “if you are sick, you have to call” policy ie no texting or emailing, and the sick leave has plummeted.

I’m slowly trying to educate them in dealing with conflict and growing a thicker skin but it’s baffling. I genuinely had someone ask me yesterday if I could not tell them about all the mistakes they make and instead could focus on the good things they do as they needed the validation. I’m all for a happy balance but WHAT?!?

Christ almighty! I would have probably burst out laughing!

I think some of it comes from never having to use the phone growing up. I had to ring my friends house as a kid and ask his mam if he was there! If you met a girl at the local disco she gave you her dad’s house number. Funny - but it taught us all invaluable communication skills.

The fact that these guys can’t make a call is worrying. As you correctly say also, and i see it myself on a daily basis, is the inability to deal with conflict and having a very thin skin! How we fix that I really don’t know. Are these guys the managing directors of tomorrow..? Worrying..

Wanderer78

Batgurl wrote:

I’m slowly trying to educate them in dealing with conflict and growing a thicker skin but it’s baffling. I genuinely had someone ask me yesterday if I could not tell them about all the mistakes they make and instead could focus on the good things they do as they needed the validation. I’m all for a happy balance but WHAT?!?

'Modern management theory', one possible explanation, a little ditty if you will. Was traveling in new Zealand few years ago, met a really nice Brazilian chap, we traveled together for a few days, sharing our experiences and life stories. On parting ways I asked, what next for you, his response has stuck with me ever since. He was doing a degree in business management, but his travels had made him realise, he was doing the wrong thing, he had decided to leave the course, his explanation, his course was suppose to teach him how to deal with people, but in fact he had realised it was actually about 'manipulating' them! Please be aware, this is not meant to be a personal attack, but maybe there's something wrong with modern management theory!

Stepping Stone

I have been working professionally for well over a decade now and I get why they hate making calls. I worked as a teenager and used the phone a lot, but it is very different.

They are young and inexperienced. I have been in the receiving end of calls like this. They have no idea what they are talking about, you know it, they know it. I think that you need to allow people to build up technical knowledge first before telling them to phone people.

In my old job, there was one manager who was always telling new starters to make calls. It was painful to listen to and it reflected really badly on the company. We got a lot of negative feedback because of it. Senior management had to step in eventually.

Once they get a bit of confidence and know what they are talking about, they will find it much easier to make calls. Email is better for some things and knowing when to use each form of communication is a huge learning curve! I know that some people that I deal with dread the phone ringing and others dread the inbox filling up, so they will not engage very well with the wrong form of communication. These are external clients and this knowledge took a long time to build.

dudara

I’m not crazy on making phone calls for work, and I’m well into my late 30s, working for many years. It’s just not my personal style.

I do make calls regularly, especially when I want to get a point across, as there’s nothing better than making personal contact. Or else when I know the other person will respond better to a phone call. Some people do really prefer that, so I’ll ring. But I’d often personally prefer an email.

893bet

Lack of confidence and experience. Most will get over it, some will learn to manage it.

Oops69

I believe it a mix of lack of confidence in young people in a new job , which can be perpetuated for years if they're not trained and supported , making and taking professional business calls is a particular skill which is honed through experience , but I do believe the generation of molly coddled -only -child millennials need a lot of work to improve their skills in this area .

Atlantic Dawn

I'd only call in an emergency or where clarification is needed quickly on something, calls take your focus away from what you're doing and most can be done with an email instead.

LynnGrace

Some mentoring and training would help, perhaps. Get them listening in to how more experienced colleagues handle phone calls. Have someone they can refer to, if there is something they cannot answer. Most of them will be well able, in no time, with a bit of help now.

Batgurl

Wanderer78 wrote: »

he had realised it was actually about 'manipulating' them!

Maybe it is about manipulating but I’d rather see everyone equipped with the skills to recognise and handle this than be suckers ripe for manipulating themselves.

Which I fear is what we will be left with if we continue to raise a generation of people who need constant validation and praise; the “instagram generation” who desperately crave the little red heart on their phone screen to feel needed.

If you want an example of how these people can be so easily preyed upon, look no further than Trumps success. He appealed to his audience by telling every single one of them that “they are right. They have been slighted. He will fix it for them.” He gave them the attention and validation they required and got to the most senior position in the US Govt as a result.

Standing on your own 2 feet, having an opinion, confidence in yourself and your ability are not flaws. And if we don’t equip people with these skills, we’re leaving them open to abuse from people with less than good intents.

jr86

DubInMeath wrote: »

The second guy sounds like he'll end up in management, already showing most of the qualities of a team manager.

Well, considering he's in his mid-late 50s he'd want to get a move on!

Everyone saw through him, he eventually ended up leaving and joining the Public Sector doing admin work

Wanderer2010

Johnnyhpipe wrote: »

I’m in my mid 30’s. I work in a busy environment which involves dealing with lots of different people every day.

I work with a few guys in their early 20s who seem absolutely terrified to make bloody phone calls! Sometimes to the point that I’d ask if they heard back from the particular person I asked him to call yesterday and they either didn’t ring at all (hoping it will all go away) or sent an email in order to avoid the call..

Is this the effect of the social media generation? Simply lacking important communication skills?

I thought it was just me, but a lot of guys I know in similar practices are having the same problem with younger graduates.

Cant say I have seen that. I know plenty of people 40s 50s and beyond who find talking on the phone very difficult. I find it tricky at times too. Its mild social anxiety and tonnes of people have it. It could hit you as well one day!

jr86

Also if they don't pick up the first time you're always conscious of when to call them back and when you do they might give a separate time to call, which is all just time consuming/distracting

Email is so much handier in that regard, they can respond whenever it suits them

At the same time some people are much more suited to calls than emails, some of the emails a member of our management team sends to clients are littered with typos and just look outright unprofessional. He would talk on the phone for Ireland though

Wanderer2010

Batgurl wrote: »

I agree with OP. Modern day workers have almost a fear or phobia towards making calls but it’s part of a bigger issue of people no longer being able to deal with conflict and (on a grander scale) being unable to cope with the unexpected or as they call it “ adulting”.

As a manager I’ve implemented a strict “if you are sick, you have to call” policy ie no texting or emailing, and the sick leave has plummeted.

I’m slowly trying to educate them in dealing with conflict and growing a thicker skin but it’s baffling. I genuinely had someone ask me yesterday if I could not tell them about all the mistakes they make and instead could focus on the good things they do as they needed the validation. I’m all for a happy balance but WHAT?!?

Ah here, grow a "thicker skin"? Who are you to change someone that way? Maybe they are great workers and get what they need done very reasonably. Anything else is a personality quirk and not up to you to "fix" or change. Take a look at yourself- you enforced a call only policy for sick pay-why, exactly? What difference do you see in someone texting or leaving a message compared with actually ringing you up to say they are sick?
From your post it sounds like you would be a difficult person to work for.

Dial Hard

Wanderer2010 wrote:

Ah here, grow a "thicker skin"? Who are you to change someone that way? Maybe they are great workers and get what they need done very reasonably. Anything else is a personality quirk and not up to you to "fix" or change. Take a look at yourself- you enforced a call only policy for sick pay-why, exactly? What difference do you see in someone texting or leaving a message compared with actually ringing you up to say they are sick? From your post it sounds like you would be a difficult person to work for.

Nonsense. Every place I have ever worked has the same policy re calling in sick. People are far less likely to take the piss if they've to actually tell their boss in real time that they won't be in

Regarding the "phone fear" it's definitely a generational thing and definitely linked to everyone having a smartphone compared to the days of having to ring the house phone to talk to your mates/person you snogged at Wesley the week end before.

Sometimes it's just quicker and easier to make a 30-second phone call rather than do a 20-message text or email back-and-forth but I know people who'll let the phone ring out and then immediately text going "What's up?" It's bizarre and a bit pathetic.

Batgurl

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

Ah here, grow a "thicker skin"? Who are you to change someone that way?

I’m their manager. It’s my job to ensure they have the right skills to do the job. That includes a thick skin because as much as I’d love the world to be nice and kind to them, it’s not.

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

What difference do you see in someone texting or leaving a message compared with actually ringing you up to say they are sick?

As I mentioned, the difference is that it’s reduced sick leave. You’ll find if people genuinely need the day, they don’t have a problem calling.

listermint

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

Ah here, grow a "thicker skin"? Who are you to change someone that way? Maybe they are great workers and get what they need done very reasonably. Anything else is a personality quirk and not up to you to "fix" or change. Take a look at yourself- you enforced a call only policy for sick pay-why, exactly? What difference do you see in someone texting or leaving a message compared with actually ringing you up to say they are sick?
From your post it sounds like you would be a difficult person to work for.

Ha ha.

Actually she sounds like a great person to work for and with.

You on the other hand appear you might have difficulty handling a babysitting job.

Molly codling adults in a workplace... I've heard it all

Klonker

I think it's as simple as lack of experience/confidence. You get a follow up question on an email you can have a think, look up the information etc., on a call you get asked, you don't want to be humming and hawwing, they're basically trying to not look stupid.

When they get more confident on their work they should lose some of this avoidance of call at least.

doolox

When I was young my father used to stand beside me if I answered the phone trying to prompt me with hand signals what to say and how to tell white lies on the phone to people he did not want to talk to at that particular time. I always seem to get it wrong and learned to dread taking or starting phone calls.

Years later I lost a job because of my lack of phone skills and shortly after I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome and needed to get coaching on how to handle phone calls effectively.

This is s skill which should be taught at schools, much as debating and public speaking skills used to be taught, at least in my schooldays.

More and more jobs are moving to a fast paced and cogent form of phone usage which is totally different to the social phone usage people may be used to. Also some people may avoid the phone completely in their private lives but need to be coached how to do so professionally in their early careers.

I have always admired and studied good phone usage and practice and have tried to imitate the good practices I have seen and avoid the mistakes people make when taking a call and hopefully I am better than I was at the task.

It is vitally important not to have eavesdroppers listening in on your conversations and I try to arrange this by offering to call back in a short time if I receive a call in a awkward situation.

Bosses can be very critical of a underlings performance on the phone lacing their comments with remarks like " why did you say that?" or" I wouldn't have done it that way" etc. Also close family partners can be unhelpful if they hear your side of the conversation or do not fully understand the often weak bargaining position of a person when receiving a work offer by phone....it is often best to handle these calls in private.

Smart phones, with their combination of call logs and messaging, can be very useful in setting up the right environment for taking or starting a call.

bee06

I’m 35 and when I started work I used to hate making or taking calls because I wasn’t used to it. Then I got a role where I needed to lead conference calls and I’d consider it one of my strengths now. Practice makes perfect.

Tony EH

Wanderer78 wrote: »

I wonder does anti-social media have anything to do with this? Is it inducing some form of complex behavioural issues into our societies, maybe some form of autism, or something that resembles some form of autism?

I think there's something to that.

It's a "Twitter generation" thing and I've noticed it a lot in younger folk. Some Gen X'ers too. It's as if they're incapable of communicating anything that isn't limited to 140 characters and in the wriiten form. They cannot have their views challenged. They fall apart with the slightest crticism. They're absolutely full of themselves and all the while they're glued to their phones looking at their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and whatever you're having yourself to see who "liked" their latest self important comment or photo of their cat, schmickles.

There are a few folk where I work that cannot even return a "good morning" or a "hello". They just look at you like you told them to fuck off or something. It's pretty amazing.

As for the OP, regarding phone calls, some people are just comfotable over a phone. Some aren't. I, myself would rather email a vendor or client instead of immediately going to the phone. Especially if I've never communicated with that person before. I also think it's politer, too, and forms a kind of introduction, as it were. If a phonecall is needed, then one is made. Or, if I am familiar with the guy/gal on the other end, picking up the phone isn't a big deal. With collegues in the office, I'll usually go to their desk, mostly to get away from the computer. :pac:

Thing is, you can edit your emails and take time to get all your ducks in a row too. A lot can be left out of a conversation, through no fault by anybody. That's just the nature of the interaction. Some communication warrants an email, as well. If there are technical issues or tracking sheets involved, no amount of face to face/voice to voice talking will help the fact that the person you're talking to cannot visualise the item you're talking about.

bee06

Jeez, the younger generation of workers are really seen in a bad light. I can’t say that’s my experience, we have a graduate programme at work and I’ve been amazed at the abilities of all the graduates I’ve worked with. A lot of them have excelled in roles that other new hires with previous work experience struggle with.

Tony EH

bee06 wrote: »

Jeez, the younger generation of workers are really seen in a bad light. I can’t say that’s my experience, we have a graduate programme at work and I’ve been amazed at the abilities of all the graduates I’ve worked with. A lot of them have excelled in roles that other new hires with previous work experience struggle with.

Well, it's not universal, of course. But it is prevalent enough to be very noticable.

Without a doubt, there are younger folk who'll slot into various situations quite well. But, likewise there remains a highly visible ineptitude regarding basic verbal communication skills in an awful lot of people. The same people who spend a large amount of their waking hours typing messages on their devices.

It's a strange malaise altogether.

R.D. aka MR.D

Interesting, I havent noticed that with the young people in my workplace.

In fact it's the opposite. I've noticed a lot of older people who don't like answering the phone. I have a staff member who won't answer the phone, it's on my to-do list to enforce this. She is 15 years older than me!!

Work with another older lady who won't take phonecalls and only sends emails or gets her subordinates to handle the calls as in she tells them what to say. I have to say, it must leave such a bad impression on clients. It's obvious she is there and just won't take their calls.

Maybe it's where I am but all the young people are very personable and eager to network and engage.

alroley

I worked in an office for a few years right after I graduated college in 2014. I had no problem answering phones/making calls, nor did the other two recent graduates in the office. However, some older co-workers did everything in their power to avoid answering the phone, even if it was ringing right next to them!

NickNickleby

In my opinion, people are reticent to do business over the phone if they are not completely confident of being able to answer queries or deal with argumentative people. Example, I got a job as a temp a couple of years ago and was put answering the phone. It was a public facing office and I can tell you that what i knew about appropriate policies etc could be written on a stamp. So I had a list of standard answers (that I compiled myself) based on asking colleagues. ASk a simple question, and expect to get three different answers from the staff. Perhaps one was correct or all three had an element of truth, or none did. So when I was challenged on the phone- which was always - I was often less than confident of my position on the matter.

To preserve my sanity, I accessed their intranet and created a comprehensive list of questions and answers. This should have been in place long before I got there.

For a while, a manager from another area was working in the office. One day he approached me about something (I was late fifties at the time) and asked me my actual position. When I told him I was a temp, he was shocked, as he reckoned I was another manager, due to my knowledge of procedures and also how I communicated them across the various sections. Why did I do it? Because I felt the next temp shouldn't have to suffer as I did.

So, to my mind , problems in an office are supposed to be solved by managers. Unfortunately, too many managers are too interested in laying down the law instead of ensuring proper policies and procedures are in place and ensuring that a robust system of communication exist.

I knew a manager who bragged about doing away with 'casual Friday'. Apart from rancour, I couldn't figure out what this brought to the section.

somefeen

I think you could show them a few things about making phone calls.
Honestly I find them very difficult myself. When your not face to face with someone its hard to know when its your turn to speak or to remember what you need to say.
I'll usually write out what I want to say, I don't follow the script exactly but use it as a guide. Like just write "hello this is X from X, I'm calling because we haven't received an invoice from you since.." Etc
Write a few lines about key info so you have it to hand and if its the kind of phone call that could turn into an argument have your point written down.
Simple stuff, if they can't atleast try that then they probably can't be bothered.

Wanderer2010

Dial Hard wrote: »

Nonsense. Every place I have ever worked has the same policy re calling in sick. People are far less likely to take the piss if they've to actually tell their boss in real time that they won't be in

Regarding the "phone fear" it's definitely a generational thing and definitely linked to everyone having a smartphone compared to the days of having to ring the house phone to talk to your mates/person you snogged at Wesley the week end before.

Sometimes it's just quicker and easier to make a 30-second phone call rather than do a 20-message text or email back-and-forth but I know people who'll let the phone ring out and then immediately text going "What's up?" It's bizarre and a bit pathetic.

Its not soley a generational thing, that's a bit of a sweeping statement. I have worked with plenty of late teens, early 20s who were very very assertive and confident on the phone. Equally, I know plenty of workmates in their 30s 40s and beyond who don't like talking to co workers or their boss on the phone. Its a wide spectrum. Some people are just built for phone chats, others don't like it.

Wanderer2010

Batgurl wrote: »

I’m their manager. It’s my job to ensure they have the right skills to do the job. That includes a thick skin because as much as I’d love the world to be nice and kind to them, it’s not.

Bit patronising. The world being tough, nice or kind or whatever is not really your place to be "teaching" them is it? That's the job of their parents or guardians. They are paid to do a job. Yes, you can tell them how you like things done (even though your phone-only for sick leave is a bit pathetic), but it seems you personally are trying to "toughen them up" or "knock the corners off them" for the real big bad world.
Not your place. Be a boss, not a control freak?

Batgurl

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

Bit patronising. The world being tough, nice or kind or whatever is not really your place to be "teaching" them is it?

Nope. Technically it’s not. But to stay in this job more than 12 months, they need certain skills and it’s my job to decide whether they have them or not. Me trying to help them gain them skills is just me trying to be a nice person.

I could be a self centred Douchebag only looking out for myself and manipulating the noobs but I think more of them than that.

Wanderer2010

Batgurl wrote: »

Nope. Technically it’s not. But to stay in this job more than 12 months, they need certain skills and it’s my job to decide whether they have them or not. Me trying to help them gain them skills is just me trying to be a nice person.

I could be a self centred Douchebag only looking out for myself and manipulating the noobs but I think more of them than that.

Yeah, something tells me that you don't just switch off your need to fix or change someone in your employ the moment 12 months pass, but whatever, if it makes you feel better to think that, that's up to you.

John_Rambo

A lot of my newer clients just don't use the phone! Won't make a call, won't answer a call. It's all email. That's ok, I just find it hard to build a good relationship.

My older clients will call me to say they've sent me an email if I don't reply immediately!! That's a pain in the arse.

One_Of_Shanks

Everybody is different. I dont buy into this whole generation change stuff.
Yeah sure if it's 3 generations but not one, it's too fast to see change like that. A generation below us doesn't suddenly become incompetent on the phone, that's nonsense.

You're possibly reading too much into it or just coincidence that a few aren't great at it and then you form conclusions.

I'm good on the phone and fairly nervy face to face. Is that down to my generation? No, its just who I am.

the_syco

Johnnyhpipe wrote: »

Is this the effect of the social media generation?

Says the person on the internet forum.

Johnnyhpipe wrote: »

Simply lacking important communication skills?

Such as not asking them and rather that you ask some random internet people???