Today’s workplace environments are ever-changing, and a lot of that is contributed to the growing number of millennials entering the corporate workforce.
We can either choose to fight these changes or embrace them. Knowing the way millennials operate can benefit the company and understand how to best utilize their strengths. The three biggest millennial truths are:
1. Millennials will change jobs more often than previous generations. It’s got nothing to do with loyalty and everything to do with a healthy work-life balance. Let’s also keep in mind that people are waiting longer to start families thus giving Millennials more trial and error time to find the right job fit.
Embrace it:
• Look for a Millennial with co-op or intern experience during their college days.
• Keep job duties and functions ‘project oriented’ with a defined beginning and end.
• Don’t be a lazy manager. You must be a coach and mentor, not just a firefighter.
2. Millennials need instant gratification. Growing up in the technology era, millennials have pretty much always gotten things handed to them quickly. Being able to communicate instantly through text, email, and social media has created a culture where it is unsatisfactory to wait for their results or rewards.
Embrace it:
• Make sure you show them how their work is relevant and meaningful by keeping them updated (through technology) on progress and results with a regular cadence.
• Don’t overthink this one. Yes, they got participation awards for playing sports in grade school. If that’s all they need then give them a participation award at work. Give them public acknowledgement of their good work with regular cadence. It doesn’t cost much to be nice…so be nice.
3. Millennials are focused on technology and not as much face-to-face communication. This goes hand-in-hand with the need for instant gratification. For millennials, it is easier to email or text a group of people and get answers quickly from each of them, rather than having to take the time to speak to each individual in person.
Embrace it:
• Because of technology, Millennials are more willing to work at home or remotely. It’s possible they’ll put more hours in on the job if the technology allows it.
• As a manager, set clear expectations early in the relationship regarding the appropriate use of text, email, and verbal communication in the workplace.
• Give them opportunities to present in front of peer groups as often as possible.
Free Chapter: Accountability The Sandler Way
Rick McDermott has over 25 years of successful sales experience working with several of North America's largest steel and aluminum distribution centers. Working in sales and management roles throughout his career, Rick has provided a broad range of products, value-added services, and logistic solutions to companies in diverse industries such as Oil & Gas, Semi-Conductor, Aerospace, Mining, and Capital Equipment Manufacturing. His passion for business and desire for helping others has been combined through the creation of McDermott Professional Solutions Inc., a licensed Sandler Training® center located in Independence, Ohio.
You might also be interested in:
