Solve the number one problem with today's young workforce the soft skills gap The number one challenge with today's young talent is a problem hiding in plain sight: the ever-widening soft skills gap.

Acknowledgments xv Part One The Soft Skills Gap 1 Prologue Meet the Newest New Young Workforce 3 Chapter 1 The Soft Skills Gap 7 The Soft Skills Gap: Growing Steadily from Gen X to Gen Y to Gen Z 10 Something Much Larger Is Going on Here: The Post-Boomer Generational Shift 11 Gen Zers Are the Ultimate Non-Conformists in an Age of Non-Comformism 16 The Soft Skills Gap: The Missing Basics in Today s Young Talent 19 Face the Hard Realities of the Soft Skills Gap 29 Chapter 2 You Can t Hire Your Way Around the Soft Skills Gap 33 Staffing Strategy and Hiring 34 On-Boarding and Up-to-Speed Training 39 Performance Management and Talent Development 42 Ongoing Training 45 The Human Element: What Role Are You Going to Play? 49 Become a Teaching Style Manager 51 Take It to the Next Level 54 Chapter 3 Unlocking the Power of Soft Skills 55 Drill Down: The Missing Basics 58 Unlocking the Power of Soft Skills 60 Unlocking the Power: The Rest of This Book 65 Part Two How to Teach the Missing Basics to Today s Young Talent 67 Chapter 4 How to Teach the Missing Basics of Professionalism to Today s Young Talent 69 How to Teach Self-Evaluation 69 Self-Evaluation: Lesson Plan 1 Introduction 75 Self-Evaluation: Lesson Plan 2 Evaluating Yourself on Ability, Skill, and Will 76 Self-Evaluation: Lesson Plan 3 Evaluating Yourself on Productivity, Quality, and Behavior 77 Self-Evaluation: Lesson Plan 4 Evaluating Yourself on the Key Soft Skills Competencies 78 Self-Evaluation: Lesson Plan 5 Drill Down on Understanding the Key Soft Skills 80 Self-Evaluation: Lesson Plan 6 Explore Your Own Successes with the Key Soft Skills 82 How to Teach Personal Responsibility 84 Personal Responsibility: Lesson Plan 1 Introduction 86 Personal Responsibility: Lesson Plan 2 All the Factors That Are in Your Way 87 Personal Responsibility: Lesson Plan 3 Considering the Most Common Factors That Get in the Way at Work 88 Personal Responsibility: Lesson Plan 4 Response Power 89 How to Teach Positive Attitude 90 Positive Attitude: Lesson Plan 1 Considering Theories of How to Be Your Best at Work 93 Positive Attitude: Lesson Plan 2 Defining Good Attitude Behaviors with Your Team or Any Individual 94 Positive Attitude: Lesson Plan 3 Considering Common Bad Attitudes 95 Positive Attitude: Lesson Plan 4 Considering Good Attitude Behaviors 96 Positive Attitude: Lesson Plan 5 For Individual Employees Who Need an Attitude Adjustment 97 How to Teach Good Work Habits 98 Good Work Habits: Lesson Plan 1 Introduction 102 Good Work Habits: Lesson Plan 2 Self-Assessment 104 Good Work Habits: Lesson Plan 3 Self-Improvement Planning 106 Good Work Habits: Lesson Plan 4 Wellness 107 Good Work Habits: Lesson Plan 5 Planning a Wellness Initiative 108 Good Work Habits: Lesson Plan 6 Self-Presentation 111 Good Work Habits: Lesson Plan 7 Using a Time Log to Start Living by a Schedule 112 Good Work Habits: Lesson Plan 8 How to Make a Basic Project Plan 116 Good Work Habits: Lesson Plan 9 Taking Notes and Making Checklists 118 Good Work Habits: Lesson Plan 10 Doing a Time/Motion Study on Yourself 120 Good Work Habits: Lesson Plan 11 Spotlight on Follow-Through 121 Good Work Habits: Lesson Plan 12 Going the Extra Mile 122 How to Teach People Skills 123 People Skills: Lesson Plan 1 Interpersonal Communication 126 People Skills: Lesson Plan 2 Self-Assessing Interpersonal Communication 127 People Skills: Lesson Plan 3 Learning to Use the People List 128 People Skills: Lesson Plan 4 Putting More Structure into Your Communication 132 People Skills: Lesson Plan 5 Putting More Substance into Your Communication 134 People Skills: Lesson Plan 6 Preparing for Meetings 136 People Skills: Lesson Plan 7 Email Best Practices 137 People Skills: Lesson Plan 8 Communicating Remotely 138 Chapter 5 How to Teach the Missing Basics of Critical Thinking to Today s Young Talent 139 How to Teach Proactive Learning 139 Proactive Learning: Lesson Plan 1 Proactive Learning 143 Proactive Learning: Lesson Plan 2 Open Mind 147 Proactive Learning: Lesson Plan 3 Suspend Judgment, Question Assumptions, and Seek to Learn 150 Proactive Learning: Lesson Plan 4 Question Assumptions 152 Proactive Learning: Lesson Plan 5 Research 153 Proactive Learning: Lesson Plan 6 Study Skills Building Knowledge 156 Proactive Learning: Lesson Plan 7 Practice Skills Building Skill 158 Proactive Learning: Lesson Plan 8 Contemplate Competing Perspectives to Build Wisdom 160 How to Teach Problem Solving 162 Problem Solving: Lesson Plan 1 Introduction 165 Problem Solving: Lesson Plan 2 Preventing or Avoiding Problems Before They Happen 166 Problem Solving: Lesson Plan 3 Ready-Made Solutions to Commonly Occurring Problems 168 Problem Solving: Lesson Plan 4 Common Denominators and Underlying Principles 170 Problem Solving: Lesson Plan 5 Applying the After Action Review Tool 171 Problem Solving: Lesson Plan 6 Using the After-Action Review Tool to Learn from Others 173 How to Teach Decision Making 174 Decision Making: Lesson Plan 1 Introduction 177 Decision Making: Lesson Plan 2 Information Analysis: Simple Pros and Cons 179 Decision Making: Lesson Plan 3 Cause and Effect: Positive Outcomes 181 Decision Making: Lesson Plan 4 Cause and Effect: Negative Outcomes 182 Decision Making: Lesson Plan 5 Applying the After-Action Review Tool 183 Decision Making: Lesson Plan 6 Using the Decision/Action Tree 184 Chapter 6 How to Teach the Missing Basics of Followership to Today s Young Talent 187 How to Teach Respect for Context 187 Respect for Context: Lesson Plan 1 Introduction 191 Respect for Context: Lesson Plan 2 Reading the Structure, Rules, Customs, and Leadership 192 Respect for Context: Lesson Plan 3 Where Do You Fit? 194 Respect for Context: Lesson Plan 4 How Can You Adapt? 195 Respect for Context: Lesson Plan 5 Context-Limiting Factors 196 Respect for Context: Lesson Plan 6 Complicated Relationships 197 Respect for Context: Lesson Plan 7 Positive Contexts 198 Respect for Context: Lesson Plan 8 Negative Contexts 199 Respect for Context: Lesson Plan 9 Dealing with People with Bad Attitudes 200 Respect for Context: Lesson Plan 10 Dealing with People with Great Attitudes 201 How to Teach Good Citizenship 202 Good Citizenship: Lesson Plan 1 Introduction 206 Good Citizenship: Lesson Plan 2 The Respect for Others Model 208 Good Citizenship: Lesson Plan 3 The Best Interests Model 210 Good Citizenship: Lesson Plan 4 The Civic" Model 211 Good Citizenship: Lesson Plan 5 The Communitarian Model 212 Good Citizenship: Lesson Plan 6 The Common Sense Model 213 Good Citizenship: Lesson Plan 7 The Solid Standards Model 215 Good Citizenship: Lesson Plan 8 The Personal Sacrifice Model 217 Good Citizenship: Lesson Plan 9 The Theodore Roosevelt Model 219 Good Citizenship: Lesson Plan 10 Create Your Own Model 220 How to Teach Service 221 Service: Lesson Plan 1 Introduction 225 Service: Lesson Plan 2 Common Myths About Service in the Workplace 227 Service: Lesson Plan 3 Realities About Service in the Workplace 228 Service: Lesson Plan 4 Myths Versus Realities in the Workplace 229 Service: Lesson Plan 5 The Be a Great Employee Model of Service 234 Service: Lesson Plan 6 The Service Approach to One-on-Ones Between Managers and Direct Reports 235 Service: Lesson Plan 7 The Service Approach to Meeting Attendance and Participation 237 Service: Lesson Plan 8 Helping Your Boss Monitor Your Performance 239 Service: Lesson Plan 9 Putting Yourself on a Performance Improvement Plan 240 How to Teach Teamwork 241 Teamwork: Lesson Plan 1 Introduction 245 Teamwork: Lesson Plan 2 Defining the Dimensions of Teamwork 247 Teamwork: Lesson Plan 3 Your Role in Relation to the Mission 249 Teamwork: Lesson Plan 4 Coordinating, Cooperating, and Collaborating with Others 250 Teamwork: Lesson Plan 5 Supporting and Celebrating the Success of Others 252 Teamwork: Lesson Plan 6 Identifying Your Go To People and Building Relationships with Them 253 Teamwork: Lesson Plan 7 Becoming a Go To Person for Others 254 Teamwork: Lesson Plan 8 Using Influence to Get Things Done 255 Teamwork: Lesson Plan 9 Consider the Lessons About Teamwork from This U.S. Air Force Special Operations Team 256 About the Author 259 Index 261

PRAISE FOR BRIDGING THE SOFT SKILLS GAP "Bridging the Soft Skills Gap offers a powerful tool to this new generation of employees and their managers to understand the skills needed to be successful in a multi-generational company with a straightforward and easy to implement 'how to' approach." —Larry Lawson, CEO, Spirit Aero Systems, Inc. "Tulgan takes understanding and addressing challenges with 'generational diversity AND inclusion' to the next level. This book is chock-full of meaningful and effective strategies for getting the most out of this critical talent component." —Sue Unvarsky, Senior Vice President, Operations, Prudential Retirement "Managers and leaders will find Bruce's work a valuable resource for how to engage and motivate a younger workforce." —Stephen Hampson, President and General Manager, MeritorWABCO "As you read this book, as well as his others, you can't help but think of real people and real situations in your organization that you are dealing with every day…. We look forward to embracing and incorporating his lessons on how to teach the missing basics in our leadership development program." —Steve Bell, EVP & Director, Human Resources, National Penn Bancshares "Bridging the Soft Skills Gap is an essential tool for developing today's talent. Tulgan's book offers an easy, no nonsense approach to building greater soft skills critical for success." —Tani Bialek, PhD, Director, Learning and Professional Development, McGladrey LLP "Bruce Tulgan offers down-to-earth, practicable and actionable answers. Tulgan again identifies a critical issue plaguing many of today's companies, and provides clear step-by-step instruction for teaching professionalism, critical thinking, and followership." —Gregg Edwards, Chief People Officer, Asante Health System "In the restaurant business, our brand is primarily delivered to every guest every time through our hourly teams, the Millennial workforce. We've incorporated Bruce's concepts and practices into our training materials and daily management practices." —Alan Palmieri, Co-Owner/Partner, Marlow's Tavern "This book offers immediately transferable ideas and guidance for a leader to enable your employees to bridge the gap in basic skills." —Sylvia B. Vogt, President, Carnegie Bosch Institute for International Management at Carnegie Mellon University "Bruce's methods for training young talent in soft skills are not only effective but help bridge the generation gap in the workplace and prepare future leaders for success." —Ray Kotcher, Senior Partner and Chairman, Ketchum, Inc. "Professionalism, critical thinking and followership are critical skills for today's law enforcement professionals. Bruce provides common sense solutions for managers to develop these skills in themselves and their employees." —Colonel Craig Price Superintendent, South Dakota Highway Patrol