Leading and Motivating Generation Y Employees

This is the first time in history to have four generations in the workforce at the same time. As the generations transi- tion and turnover, it is important to determine what makes the most recent generation "tick" Generation Y is new, innovative, and likes to be social. That is a change from what has been tradition- ally taught in leadership courses. Mentorship has become a key factor in gaining trust and engagement from generation Y employees. While there are intrinsic and extrinsic factors that motivate all employees, generation Y has shown to be more intrinsically moti- vated than extrinsically. They value achievement and socializa- tion more than prior generations, and since trust is not automatic, a good mentoring program can bridge that gap. The literature review shows that strong, meaningful mentorship pro- grams are a great way to lead and moti- vate generation Y into the future as cur- rent employees and future leaders.