How to Keep Your Millennial Employees Happy and Productive
Some research indicates that millennials are the most studied generation in history. These facts are not a surprise at all, having in mind that by 2025, millennials are going to take up more than 75% of the workforce in the US. Meaning, in less than five years, if you are not a millennial, chances are most of your closest colleagues will be. But these numbers alone are not the reason for such a wide interest in this generation. The interest lies in the fact that they are so different from their predecessors.
In order to understand how to manage such a diverse, ever-present and ever-changing workforce, one first must understand who millennials really are.
Everything You Need to Know About Millennials
Actual data differ, but the overall opinion is that millennials are the generation born between 1981 and 1996. Once they joined the workforce, they caused a series of disturbances that couldn’t be overlooked. They, slowly but steadily, eliminated the colourless cubicles with time cards and serious bosses, that lacked diversity, motivation, and proactivity. Once their upbringing, technology advancement and global trends set in, the office rules became a culture, and drinks after work became team building. Millennials are highly educated, motivated and set the bar really high. If you want to make them happy, productive, and interested enough to stay, you might need to change your approach.
Start by Changing the Culture, and Go from There
The most difficult thing a company can change is culture. Which is why this change is the most important one — it creates a solid foundation for every other organisational development. Millennials don’t thrive in typical corporate environments, with gray cubicles, a strict chain of command, and scheduled bathroom breaks. However, although they tend to go for a more laissez-faire approach, that doesn’t mean that you won’t see the results of their work. If you give them trust and freedom, they will have a much better foundation to succeed in your company.
Implementing strict rules and processes, eliminating the ability for creative input and movement of ideas and suggestions, not cultivating open and honest communication… All of those are things that would definitely make your millennial workforce eager to look for a change.
Make Sure That They Feel Appreciated and Valued
It wasn’t common in corporate America to create an elaborate reward and recognition system. You might have had a bonus if you hit a certain number, but that was about it. Nowadays, employees expect you to recognize and reward all sorts of behaviours that are in line with the company culture — good communication skills, conflict resolution, cooperation, teamwork… Focusing on the behaviour, not just the end results, can yield more positive results in the end. Once you have identified your most valuable players, make sure they are being appreciated, but not just in terms of a salary increase. Enable them to have all sorts of experiences as a direct result of their increased productivity and improved behaviour — attending a conference, getting a mentor, going to a teambuilding event in Prague. Create bigger value for them instead of just adding zeroes to their bank account.
Encourage Diversity and Creativity
It has been said about millennials that they are not looking for managers, but for mentors. They perform at their highest in an environment where they feel comfortable expressing themselves, being authentic, and feeling valued. One of the best ways to achieve this is to promote diversity. This doesn’t just apply to the characteristics of your employees, although it is one of the most important aspects. It also applies to the way you handle business, interact with clients, and lead projects.
Millennials come from all sorts of backgrounds and have grown up with global, intercultural influences. That is clearly visible in their everyday lives and in their work. They are influenced by ideas and philosophies from around the world and they prefer to be able to implement that in their work. If you provide them with an environment where this is encouraged and appreciated, they will be some of the most productive employees you have ever had.
It is often mentioned that millennials don’t stay at one company for very long, but those statistics alone don’t say much. What that actually means is that, if their requirements aren’t met, millennials don’t hesitate to leave. On the other side of that — if they are, they will stay and thrive. If you have an employee looking for a change of pace, and you fail to give him one, it is no surprise when they find that opportunity elsewhere. Instead of blaming the diversified upbringing of millennials, bosses all over should adapt to the change and be open to seeing things from a different perspective. Looking at a problem as a challenge, instead of an obstacle, is what has made millennials such good workforce in the first place.
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