DrivenLeaders.com

Today’s guest post is from Kyle Ryman of ProfessionalLEADER.com.

Do you have Generation Y in your organization? You probably do, and that means that you will have to, at one point or another, have to get a hold of them at some point in time. But how will you do it? Look through these 4 different ways to find the best way of getting a hold of the tech savvy Generation Y.

1. Social Networking Sites

You will want to use social networking sites if you have a short to medium length message, that will be sent to one or a handful of people, and it will need to be read or responded to relatively quickly.

What is great about them:

• They check these sites multiple times a day.
• It is easy for them to access and respond to your message.

What sucks about them:

• You can’t send attachments.
• Lack of formatting options keeps your message length relatively short.
• It is hard to easily communicate with more than a handful of people.
• You not only have to be on the same social network, but you also have to be their “friend.

2. Text Messages

You will want to use text messages if you have a very short and direct message, that will be sent to one or a handful of people, and it needs to be read or responded to extremely quickly.

What is great about them:

• Text messages are easy to respond to, even while in class…
• Their phone will notify them as soon as they receive one.
• You can be almost certain they will receive your message.

What sucks about them:

• You can only use this for short, direct, messaging.
• You are hard pressed to contact large groups.
• It costs you money…

3. E-mails & List Servs

You will want to use e-mails and list servs if you have a medium to long message, which will be sent to any sized audience, and it needs to be read or responded to within the next few days.

What is great about them:

• You can send longer, more detailed messages.
• You can send attachments.
• They normally check their personal e-mail at least once per day (more with a smart phone).
• Emails and list servs make it easier for you to contact large groups.

What sucks about them:

• They don’t check this as much as they do their social networking sites.
• If you don’t send to their personal e-mail, then good luck.
• There is a “slight” risk of their spam filter filtering you…

4. Phone Calls

You will want to use phone calls only if your message is too complex to be expressed any other way, i.e. you have got to talk to them.

What is great about them:

• Phone calls are a very dynamic medium.
• You actually know whether or not they got, and understood, your message.

What sucks about them:

• You can only contact one person at a time.
• They probably won’t pick up, for whatever reason…
• They will not listen to any voice mails that you send. Or, at least not any time soon.

The Key for You…

…is matching medium to message. You have got to know what kind of message you are sending, what timeframe they need to respond in, and how many people you will be sending it to. If you take those three things into consideration and match them to the appropriate communication channel, then you will stand a much better chance at getting a hold of your Generation Yers.

My Question to You:

When you have to get a hold of Generation Y, how do you do it?

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Kyle Ryman is a guest contributor and author of ProfessionalLEADER.com. He is a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army (infantry), and a recent graduate of Texas A&M University with a B.A. in History, Minor in Communications, and Certificate in Leadership Development and Study.