How to Motivate and Train Teenage Employees

Today's teens, Generation Y, have high standards and expect a lot from life in addition to their employer. The way you motivate and train teenage employees can largely affect your turnover. In addition, you're shaping a new member of the work force whose productivity will benefit society for years to come. Working with teens can be a challenging endeavor, as they are a unique group. Cater to their needs and in turn, create valuable employees, by motivating and training them.

Instructions

1. Spend as much one-on-one training time with your teen employees as possible. This group has high expectations, and will likely ask a lot of questions. They will respect your taking the time to discuss the business and its operations with them directly, rather than pawning them off on another employee to train them. They'll also appreciate your devotion to the business, and willingness to "get your hands dirty."

2. Be approachable. Don't just be a name who owns the place and signs the checks. Be available, and be interested. If teens can tie their work efforts toward a person, and personality, they feel a loyalty to, they will feel more connected to the organization, rather than it being just a place they happen to work.

3. Figure out what is important to them. Ask about their job interests, and isten carefully, as they may speak a different language. Assume that your teen employees want to learn and that they have something great to contribute. Teens often have too many choices, and many activities in their schedules, and they may have trouble saying what they really want, so be patient.

4. Make the connection. Explain to them how the work they are doing for you relates to their life. Help them to make connections between the work completed for your organization and their work at school, their favorite pastime, or their future career. Many aspects of very different jobs and roles are applicable to real life and learning.

5. Team them about finances. Unfortunately, schools rarely teach budgeting. Parents try, but kids often take their words of wisdom as punishment. Show them what it takes to run a business, and how they can use their paycheck to save for something they really want. You'll help them to appreciate investments in business.

6. Thank their parents. Sometimes bosses are able to motivate teens to do work their parents wish they would do at home. Show your gratitude for some great parenting, acknowledging that the parents laid the foundation and instilled basic values in their children. Consider inviting the parents to your business, allowing the kids to teach their parents about their job.