How to Work with Millennials
How to Work with Millennials
Millennials are the generation born between 1980 and 1999 ranging from age 18 to 35 years old. Unlike past generations, Millennials are entering the workforce with vastly different strengths and outlooks on life. If you’re still using old business management techniques, it’s safe to say you can throw them out the window. Millennials are here, and they are reshaping the entire world of business.
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Here are a few tips to help you communicate and work better with new emerging millennial employees.
Provide a Life-Work Balanced Workplace
The Millennial generation prefers a balance between life and work activities. They grew up participating in multiple sports, activities, clubs, and jobs, and therefore enjoy busy lifestyles with a range of different activities. Whether it’s starting a company sports team or Wednesday night happy hour, make sure that you are providing a balanced wok environment.
Work in Teams
Millennials are used to working in teams and thrive in this setting. They prefer to come to a group consensus when it comes to decisions rather than one person making a decision. Because of this, you will get the most out of your millennial employees if you make it a priority to involve and show them why certain decisions are made. Even though they work well as team members though, it is important to still treat them as an individual as well. eSUB is dedicated to this type of work setting, promoting teamwork amongst all levels. We recognize that the best decisions come from brainstorming as a team!
Provide Feedback & Encouragement
Millennials want feedback and lots of it. They appreciate constructive criticism, but they also need reassurance that they are doing their job well. They are eager to present new ideas, and they want to share these concepts with managers so that they can brainstorm together. Millennials are constantly looking for opportunities to learn and grow, so they prefer constant feedback instead of the typical twice-a-year reviews. Having a coaching mentality works much better than a director mentality when working with this generation. They prefer optimism and tend to look at the world through a different lens than previous generations. They will look to leaders as role models for this leadership and positivity, so drop the negative outlook and embrace a more optimistic one. If you are willing to offer flexibility and support, you will be amazed at how much millennial employees can accomplish.
Build Trust
Creating a foundation of trust is key to working successfully with millennials. They want honesty and genuine interactions with their coworkers and bosses. Relationships in the workplace are extremely important to them so it is essential that you create a trusting relationship where they feel like they can voice their opinion. At eSUB, we value trust among all employees and strive to foster these meaningful relationships in the workplace.
Provide a Challenge
Millennials are known to get bored very quickly. They crave a challenge and work best when juggling new and different tasks on a daily basis.
Listen
Listening is key to the success of Millennial employees. As you’ve probably heard before, this generation had parents who were very involved, extremely doting, and very encouraging. As a result of this, they want to be a part of the decision-making process and feel that their opinions matter. They want to share their news ideas and thoughts, so take the time to listen and hear them out.
Allow for Creativity & Innovation
Millennials are motivated quite differently than past generations. One of their most important objectives is to change the world and make a difference through innovation and creativity. They are much less focused on salaries and job titles, and instead are searching for a sense of meaning in their work. This may be one of the reasons that they often prefer start-ups to large corporations. Startups give them the opportunity for their voice to be heard instead of getting lost in the shuffle.
As hard as a change and shift might be, Millennials are here to stay. They will soon compromise a majority of the workforce, so it is essential that businesses start devoting the time and effort to understanding and getting the most out of these employees. This generation is more optimistic and innovative than ever before, so tap into that talent and reap the rewards!
Sources:
3 truths about millennials that will change your management approach
