Millennials In The Workplace
A lot has been said about who a millennial is. Having read and listened to people like Simon Sinek and Gary Vee, I still hold a view that a millennial is someone who was born between 1980/85 and 2000.
Research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicates that millennials will be the largest generation by 2030 representing 75% of the workforce. Millennials are now the single largest group within the workforce, and will soon become the biggest consumer group too.
We (millennials) have been accused of being entitled, unfocused, lazy, even being self centered at the workplace. On the other hand I believe, we just see the world in a different way.
Before you stereotype us, you need to understand that we are ambitious go-getters and need to feel as though we’re doing meaningful work. I’m much more than what the media makes me seem to be. The majority of us “millennials” don’t even refer to ourselves as that. We want to be recognized by our personal brands and our contributions.
So how do you keep us engaged and more loyal to your company? Well, you take a little time to understand us- find out what motivates us, and what absolutely turns us off!
5 Simple Strategies to Motivate Millennials!
Offer More Flexibility
According to the 2016 Deloitte Millennial Survey, work-life balance was the most important driver of employer choice. We don’t like the idea of having set working hours and being glued to a desk for most of the day. Millennials also love being able to work remotely, especially with all the technology, work can be done from pretty much anywhere with internet.
One of the worst things an employer can do to an employee, especially a millennial is telling them that they need to dedicate all of their time to their job. That’s a sure way to decrease employee retention. Everyone has lives outside of work and can’t be 100% in work mode every day. Allow team members to spend some time each week to work on a personal project or hobby. This not only helps fulfill their passion, but it also helps employees to take on a leadership role, develop their problem solving skills & creativity, and make them feel more loyal to the company.
Explain The Company Vision
If you want to keep millennials engaged, you have to give us meaningful work that is in line with the company’s mission. We want to feel as though we’re part of something great and can make an impact. If we don’t see any meaning in our roles and don’t understand the vision, we’ll most likely feel undervalued and this will reflect in our performance.
Give Them Mentors
A big difference between millennials and older generations is that we like to have a more successful person show us the ropes and help us reach our goals. A great mentor will help in our professional development, challenge us, and also provide constructive criticism and positive reinforcement.
Invest In Us
Show you’re committed to our success! This generation is committed to personal growth and achievement. If you don’t plan to invest in our professional development and well-being, you’re not the team we want to work with! Millennials want to improve and be given the opportunity test out their new skills, so provide them the tools and resources to do so.
Give Us Time For Community Service
A way to make work more meaningful for millennials is to offer community activities like volunteer work through the company. We prioritize helping those in need and making the world a better place. Besides working for the greater good, volunteer work is great for team-building because it develops emotional intelligence and encourages the team to connect in ways that would never be possible during the workday.
