Recent research from Yahoo HotJobs and Robert Half International found that 60 percent of Gen-Yers want to hear from their managers at least once a day.

This is similar to what we learned during our research on the book. It really isn’t a question of Gen Y wanting to work on their own, but rather they want to be given a goal and then be allowed the flexibility for how they meet that goal. They want their manage to be more like a coach — someone who is available when some guidance is needed.

At Intuit, we have a program for Gen Yers and they love sitting down and talking to older employees who have been a round the block a bit. They appreciate it when we can share our experiences with them… but only if we share our experiences in an open and authentic dialogue. This is different than the traditional approach of talking down.. or treating some explicitly as a subordinate…. or having the attitude that you are the boss.

Personally, I try and check in with my Gen Y team members as often as possible because every conversation is an opportunity to learn.