In the past four years, over 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students have attended Leadership Edge leadership development seminars. More than 270 collegians have participated in Leadership Edge's six week training programs. As we have listened to, observed and trained many of these students, it is apparent that working relationships built around loyalty and truth are indeed possible. The building of these relationships must be preceded with an awareness on the part of the managers of how twentysomethings understand loyalty and truth. The twentysomethings in our programs demonstrate an approach to loyalty that is shaped in three ways.
Loyalty is manifested in relationships.
This generation does not make strong, long-term commitments to large organizations. Their loyalty tends to form around ongoing relationships with a small group of people within or apart from organizations. In the small group context, they often prove themselves to be exceedingly loyal. Loyalty to organizations occurs in short term commitments. This generation does not see a compelling reason to be involved in any organization long term.