Passing the BatonPassing the Baton

Gordon YoungsGordon Youngs

Personnel Services DirectorPersonnel Services Director

Brea CABrea CA

Issues in Succession Issues in Succession ManagementManagement

Background – Generational ChangesBackground – Generational Changes What are the Challenges?What are the Challenges? What Others are DoingWhat Others are Doing Strategies for Organizational SuccessStrategies for Organizational Success

The Generational ShiftThe Generational Shift

The Silent Generation (pre 1946) and The Silent Generation (pre 1946) and Baby Boomers (1946-1964)Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Retired or reaching retirement ageRetired or reaching retirement age More people retiring = more vacanciesMore people retiring = more vacancies

Generation X (1965-1981) and the Generation X (1965-1981) and the Millennials (1981-)Millennials (1981-) Fewer coming into public workforceFewer coming into public workforce Different skills, different motivationsDifferent skills, different motivations

Impact of Generation Impact of Generation ChangesChanges

Loss of institutional knowledgeLoss of institutional knowledge Loss of PerspectiveLoss of Perspective Changing attitudesChanging attitudes Changing skills - Changing skills -

What are the “right” skills?What are the “right” skills?

Challenges: What Are the Challenges: What Are the Right Skills?Right Skills?

What the Older What the Older Generation Knows:Generation Knows: Laws and regulationsLaws and regulations Accounting principlesAccounting principles Accountability and Accountability and

EthicsEthics Conventional Conventional

ThinkingThinking

What the Younger What the Younger Generation Brings:Generation Brings: Urgency / ImpatienceUrgency / Impatience QuestionsQuestions Fewer basic skillsFewer basic skills Transitory EthicsTransitory Ethics AdaptationAdaptation

Challenges: Challenges: Why Aren’t Why Aren’t Young People Choosing Young People Choosing Local Government? Local Government? Lack of knowledgeLack of knowledge Anti-government biasAnti-government bias Insufficient outreachInsufficient outreach Perceptions of bureaucracy and red tapePerceptions of bureaucracy and red tape ““Bottom of the barrel” mythBottom of the barrel” myth Preference for the profit sector Preference for the profit sector

Challenges: Challenges: What Are What Are Young Professionals Young Professionals Saying? Saying?

Lack of experience / opportunities Lack of experience / opportunities

Lack of mentoring and mentorsLack of mentoring and mentors

Desire for a better balance between Desire for a better balance between family and personal life over careerfamily and personal life over career

What Are Others Doing ?What Are Others Doing ?The PNG Initiative The PNG Initiative

BackgroundBackground Two pronged approachTwo pronged approach

o Attract young people Attract young people o Develop those already in the pipelineDevelop those already in the pipeline

Programs and resourcesPrograms and resources1.1. Resource Book Resource Book 2.2. Coaching Initiative Coaching Initiative 3.3. Management Talent Exchange ProgramManagement Talent Exchange Program4.4. On-Line Internship ClearinghouseOn-Line Internship Clearinghouse

Strategies for Public Strategies for Public OfficialsOfficials

Stop bashing governmentStop bashing government Insist on civility Insist on civility Promote the rewards of servicePromote the rewards of service Reach out to studentsReach out to students Introduce teens to public serviceIntroduce teens to public service Allow mis-steps by young professionalsAllow mis-steps by young professionals

Best PracticesBest Practices

Develop mentoring programsDevelop mentoring programs Encourage job shadowingEncourage job shadowing Start a management trainee programStart a management trainee program Create a rotation programCreate a rotation program Develop leadership training programsDevelop leadership training programs Sponsor management forumsSponsor management forums Create a formal succession planCreate a formal succession plan

Best PracticesBest Practices

Know your organizationKnow your organization Identify tomorrow’s talent poolIdentify tomorrow’s talent pool Cultivate opportunities for leadershipCultivate opportunities for leadership Create a learning organization Create a learning organization Water the green spots Water the green spots

Best PracticesBest Practices

Changing Our Own AttitudesChanging Our Own Attitudes Recognize “talent development” as a primary Recognize “talent development” as a primary

rolerole Be a risk taker, and encourage creativityBe a risk taker, and encourage creativity Develop a broader notion of professional Develop a broader notion of professional

“legacy”“legacy” Ask them what they think, what they wantAsk them what they think, what they want

Share Your Experiences…Share Your Experiences…

Do any of you have examples you can Do any of you have examples you can offer to the others here today?offer to the others here today?

Do you have questions?Do you have questions?

I have a question for you…I have a question for you…

What Will You Do?What Will You Do?

List 1-2 things you will do when you return List 1-2 things you will do when you return to your organization to: to your organization to:

Attract young people to local governmentAttract young people to local government

Develop talent already in your organizationDevelop talent already in your organization

ResourcesResources

Next Generation Resource Guide BookNext Generation Resource Guide Bookhttp://http://jobs.icma.orgjobs.icma.org

MMASC and MMANC websites:MMASC and MMANC websites:www.mmasc.orgwww.mmasc.orgwww.mmanc.orgwww.mmanc.org

Thank You, and good luck in

your succession management.