One of my favorite things about being a leader is guiding younger generations entering the workforce. Encouraging and supporting them as they learn the ropes.
The youngest group in the workforce today are the Millennials. At ages 18-34, they are currently the largest workforce at 75 million, outnumbering even the Baby Boomer generation.
The young men and women who make up the Millennial workforce are very different from the older Baby Boomer and Gen X generations. They are tech savvy, self-confident, and have adapted very well to a more complicated world, having grown up in a fast-paced, highly technical, and computer driven era.
Related: 36 Ways Leaders Motivate Their Employees
When working with Millennials, leaders benefit knowing how Millennials are different than previous generations. Millennials have been in a technological world almost since birth where they’ve experienced immediate gratification through social media, on-line purchasing, and where almost everything is obtained by a click of a button. They know what they want and don’t want to wait to get it.
What are the challenges when working with the Millennial workforce?
A leader must lead Millennials differently than the Baby Boomer and Gen X generations. Unlike prior generations,
- Millennials look for and require instant results
- Desire speedy career advancement
- Expect immediate feedback on how they are doing
Millennials expect an explanation of what they are being asked to do. Set clear expectations of what you want from them. As their leader, help and reward Millennials by giving positive feedback. If you have something negative to say, don’t beat around the bush, Millennials don’t have time for that. No longer will leaders be able to give reviews once a year to go over performance and expectations in the office. Give them specific guidance on how they can improve immediately.
Related: 4 Secrets That Will Make You A Better Leader
What motivates Millennials to higher performance?
Top priorities that drive Millennials to succeed within your company include:
- Regular raises and bonuses
- Career advancement
- Work/life balance
- Empowerment over their jobs
Having the ability and eagerness to learn and flexibility to change gives Millennials a strong advantage when bringing them on to your team. Make them part of the big picture to add context to what they are doing. They value experience and knowledge and want to take ownership of their work. They want to be part of and to contribute to the company vision.
As a leader, the quicker we understand the benefits of working with the Millennial workforce, embracing their strengths, desires, and expectations, the faster they will successfully integrate into our business setting. Be open to the changes and new ideas the Millennial workforce brings. Learn from them as they learn from us.
As a leader of Millennials, what do you find works best? What are the challenges you are facing?
Hi, I’m Karen. Welcome to my website! I will show you how to establish the framework for an organized and successful leadership and office management system.
