Those Damn Millennials!
Hello, my name is Nate Andorsky. I am 29 and I am a millennial.
Honestly, not completely sure what “millennial” means. If I were to define this simply by age, textbook definition says that if you were born between the year of 1977 and 1995 you are a millennial. Mazel tov.
I’ve read tons of articles on what it means to be a “millennial” and I am still confused. Some articles praise us for being open-minded, socially driven and creative while others say we’re impatient, entitled and disrespectful.
Is there more going on than meets the eye? Let’s look to the brain.
The brain is an amazing organ and I’ve only begun to understand the inner workings of this device but as I’ve done more research, it’s changed my thinking on how all of us are shaped. I’ve recently stumbled on this magnificent part of the brain called the frontal cortex.
What is the frontal cortex?
This part of the brain is responsible for a lot but for purposes of this piece — two main takeaways:
- It’s responsibility — working memory, executive function, gratification postponement, long-term planning, regulation of emotions, and reining in impulsivity.
- When it matures — The frontal cortex is not completely online until people are in their mid twenties. While other parts of the brain mature in early childhood, the frontal cortex is the only part which takes almost another two decades to fully mature. This means your FC is not fully online until your mid to late twenties.
Wait a minute, re-read that. That description could have been mistaken for millennials, right? If your FC is not fully developed you’re not strong in — “Gratification postponement, long-term planning, regulation of emotions”. Man, what a hot mess we are. Employers, I get it — I’d stay away from us too.
However, it’s not us, it’s our brains.
There is a scientific reason why we elude these traits. Furthermore, it’s not just ‘us,’ it’s the natural maturation process of the human brain. This has been happening since the dawn of time, but this time around, we’ve decided to label it “millennials.”
It’s apparent that these traits have been exasperated by technology. Today’s rewards are no longer delayed and instant gratification is at our fingertips. In addition, we’re more exposed. We have the ability to broadcast on the internet what is going on in our lives. If I grew up 50 years ago I’d have no idea that Cheryl from high school lives in Wyoming with two kids, a dog and ended up marrying our high school quarterback.
But our greatest weakness is also one of our greatest strengths and if harnessed correctly can be quite powerful. We’re open to new experiences and oftentimes don’t see boundaries. Being too cautious can make organizations resistant to change, causing them to lose leadership status and fall behind the pack.
We’re passionate because we don’t regulate our emotions as well as those with a matured FC but this passion can drive us and influence those around us to new heights. If you’re an employer, understanding this and learning to harness how we operate will let us thrive.
So if you’re working with a millennial don’t fight our traits, embrace them or at least until we’re fully matured. After all, it’s not us — it’s our frontal cortex.
Until next time,
Nate
