Generation Y’s Biggest Turn-Offs For Their Leaders In The Workplace

During the months of June, July and August, we surveyed 320 Generation Y careerists, ranging in age from 21-27 years of age. In the survey, we asked a few questions about leadership and what Gen Ys are looking for in a leader.

Question Number 4 was this:

What are the biggest turn-offs for you in the leaders in your workplace?

The following 10 answers did not just come up a few times. They came up over and over again in the answers, which tells me that these qualities and behaviors need some very focused work. If you are the leader of an organization, I would recommend that you start surveying your employees to find out what’s really going on in your organization around these issues. While I realize these qualities are qualities that no one wants, Generation Y is a generation who not only does not want these qualities in their leaders, they won’t tolerate them, and they are smart enough to move on from your organization if they feel these behaviors are a part of your culture.

Top Answer: 1: Arrogance (I know it all!)

2: Big Egos (The success is all about me and how great I am)

3: Hypocrisy/Being Two-Faced

4: Lying and Sneakiness

5: Narrow-Minded

6: Micro-Management and Being Bossy (tied for 6th place)

7: Ignorance (My boss does not know what the heck he/she is doing)

8: Negative Attitudes

9: Inauthentic

10: Sketchiness/Corruption/Flashing Money/Not On the Up and Up/Secretive Behavior

If you believe your organization is being affected by any of the above behaviors, please send me an e-mail to beafields@beafields.com, and we can discuss a 360 Degree assessment for your organization.