How to Motivate Younger Employees, with David Yeager - Coaching for Leaders Recap
Podcast: Coaching for Leaders
Published: 2026-03-23
Duration: 2326
Guests: David Yeager
What Happened
Older generations have consistently expressed concerns about the younger generations, a trend that dates back to notable figures like Aristotle and Freud. David Yeager, a professor of psychology, discusses how these complaints often stem from personal past experiences rather than any real decline in the capabilities of younger people. Research by Dan Gilbert supports this, showing that for 70 years, each generation has thought the next one was worse off.
David Yeager emphasizes the importance of status and respect for young people, likening these needs to basic necessities such as food and sleep for infants. He suggests that young people often prioritize these social needs over basic health needs, similar to how Olympic athletes might sacrifice comfort for their goals. This pursuit of status and respect can explain behaviors that older generations find frustrating.
Many leaders face the mentor's dilemma, which involves balancing between being overly critical and too lenient. Yeager advocates for a 'mentor mindset' that combines high standards with high support, fostering an environment where young employees feel psychologically safe to take risks and innovate. This approach counters young people's assumptions of criticism being inherently negative unless explicitly communicated otherwise.
David Yeager introduces three leadership styles: all standards with no support, no standards with high support, and high standards with high support. The latter, defined as the mentor mindset, is presented as the most effective for motivating young employees. It creates a balance that encourages growth and development while maintaining high expectations.
Yeager's research, in collaboration with other notable psychologists like Carol Dweck and Angela Duckworth, has led to impactful interventions affecting behaviors such as motivation and mental health among adolescents. His work stresses the importance of understanding young people's needs and the role of wise feedback, which includes setting high standards while expressing belief in the individual's ability to meet them.
The episode also highlights the value of 'do-overs' in relationships. Yeager shares anecdotes illustrating how reattempting interactions with understanding can rectify previous mistakes. He mentions how these principles have been applied beyond young people, citing a general counsel who found the strategies useful in mentoring young lawyers and adapting to new roles.
Key Insights
- Generational complaints about younger people are long-standing, with figures like Aristotle and Freud noting similar sentiments in their times. Research by Dan Gilbert shows a consistent pattern over 70 years of each generation viewing the next as worse off.
- David Yeager highlights the critical importance of status and respect for young people, likening them to basic needs such as food and sleep. This need often drives young people to prioritize social standing over personal health, leading to behaviors that may seem perplexing to older generations.
- The 'mentor mindset' combines high standards with high support, a leadership style that David Yeager advocates for motivating young employees. This approach creates psychological safety, encouraging innovation and risk-taking by ensuring that feedback is not perceived as inherently negative.
- David Yeager's research, often in collaboration with Carol Dweck and Angela Duckworth, focuses on interventions that positively influence adolescent behaviors, including motivation and mental health. His work underscores the importance of wise feedback, combining high expectations with belief in the individual's potential.