When I mention Millennials, or Generation Y, what are a few words that come into mind?
Depending on your experience with them, you may think of words like:
money-minded, overly ambitious, entrepreneurial, hippie-mentality, rebellious, not loyal, talks fast, can’t focus…
And the list goes on. Truth be told, they are not as different as the rest of the generations. They are just different because of their upbringing, their exposure to fast-paced technology all the time, quality of education and variety of opportunities.
Yup, they are just wired a little differently.
And you wanna know the truth? They would say the same thing about babyboomers and Generation Xs too, who were brought up in a post-war world. Trust me, you wouldn’t want me to tell you their remarks and comments. :)
Before we go into looking at ways to work better with this next generation leaders, let's have a look at how the Millennials are being defined.
MEET THE GENERATIONS
Usually, the easiest way to define what generation someone is in, is by looking at the period he or she was born in.
| GENERATON NAME | BIRTH STARTS | BIRTH ENDS | YOUNGEST AGE TODAY* | OLDEST AGE TODAY* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Lost Generation - The Generation of 1914 | 1890 | 1915 | 103 | 128 |
| The Interbellum Generation | 1901 | 1913 | 105 | 117 |
| The Greatest Generation | 1910 | 1924 | 94 | 108 |
| The Silent Generation | 1925 | 1945 | 73 | 93 |
| Baby Boomer Generation | 1946 | 1964 | 54 | 72 |
| Generation X (Baby Bust) | 1965 | 1979 | 39 | 53 |
| Xennials | 1975 | 1985 | 33 | 43 |
| Generation Y - The Millennials, Gen Next | 1980 | 1994 | 24 | 38 |
| iGen/Gen Z | 1995 | 2012 | 6 | 23 |
| Gen Alpha | 2013 | 2025 | 1 | 5 |
* If still alive today :)
Again, this is a quick and "dirty" way to identify which generation someone is in based on their age. However, some experts would when it comes to Asians, there are other factors at play. We shall look at those factors in another Steemit post later.
MEET THE MILLENNIALS (STATS TALKING)
Just 6 in 10 Millennials have jobs, and half of them are part-time.
Have student debt of $1 trillion.
48% of employed colleges grads are working in jobs that don't require a four-year degree.
The average member of this generation group carries a debt of $45k.
8 out of 10 have donated money, goods or services.
6 out of 10 are worries about the state of the world and feel a sense of responsibility to make a difference.
4 out of 10 have a tattoo.
By 2025, they will account for 75% of the global workforce.
9 out of 10 believe that business success should be measured by more than just profit.
70% are friends with their managers and colleagues on Facebook.
15% of them are already managers
69% believe office attendance is unnecessary.
27% of millennials are already self-employed.
8 TIPS TO COMMUNICATE BETTER WITH THEM
Ok, now that we're through with the definitions, let's get to the real reasons you click on this post.
#####1. Instant Reward
Yup, growing up in a fast-pace world means they can get things fast, as they say, at the snap of their fingers. So, instead of having a grand big goal on a yearly or tri-yearly basis, break the goals down into milestones. Communicate these "mini short term goals" to them on a regular basis, and entice them with it.
I'll be doing a separate Steemit post on the three main methods of motivation later as well, so watch out for it.
#####2. Cut the Corporate BS
Thanks to social media, Gen-Ys are more exposed, so they know what really is going on. Unlike their parents who get their news from TV and newspapers, Gen-Ys get their off Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and RSS feeds. Because of that, they will develop multiple versions of a story, and if you just try to push one version down their throat, they will have the tedency to rebel.
Research showed that if you make an effort to explain the situation to them, they will understand better. Remove the fluff, and keep it real.
#3. Involve Them and Ask Them for Their Ideas
Because of their exposure to the internet, Millenials are a bunch that have tons of ideas and loads of opinions floating around in their head, just waiting for the right opportunity to be brought out into the world.
They like to have company cultures that are inclusive in nature, where they can feel that they are part of the equation that made changes happen. In my experience working with them, between receiving a "no" for this suggestion and not having a chance to even speak up, they will go with the former, anytime.
Ask them questions like “Hey, I’m not guaranteeing that you ideas will be implemented, but I wanted to know your opinion on [subject]"
#4. Focus on Growth
Here's where they got some of us fooled. While many of us may think that Millennials are motivated by money, that's actually not true. Frankly, the percentage that cite "higher pay" as the reasons for leaving a job is more or less the same as any other generation, because all of us have an inner priority when it comes to wealth and money.
Personally, I’ve seen many of them taking on jobs with much lesser pay, just because it provides growth opportunities. As a matter of fact, some even quit a job that wasn't aligned with their internal values, even before securing a new placement!
Send them for training programs, gift them books, bring them out for learning lunches. Truth me, they will appreciate you for it.
#5. Regular Feedback
Because of their value in personal growth and career development, these young corporate warriors love being given feedback - in the right way - of course. Yelling, nagging and humiliating them aren’t going to work. Instead, try this simple method:
“Mark, I have been observing your work for a while, and I got to tell you, you’re doing really well. There are a few areas that I would like to give you some feedback on, so you can improve further. How's your schedule this afternoon or tomorrow morning for a quick chat?"
#6. It's not undermining if you ask them the Why question
Unlike the more senior employees in the company, it is okay to ask the Gen-Ys the Why question, provided it's in the right tone. You see, with other generations, sometimes they will get defensive when you question their purpose/objectives of doing something, or if it's done in a certain way.
However, with the Millennials, they see it as an opportunity for their views and voices to be heard. As a matter of fact, they may even appreciate it, and had been secretly wishing for a chance to speak up.
Asking the why question solidifies their purpose of doing something, and give both parties clarity in the process as well. It's a good opportunity for you to understand how their thought processes work, and what makes them unique.
#7. They Welcome Mentoring
We've established that they are growth-centric, and offering them coaching, guidance and mentoring is a great way for them to feel valued. Be it your time or wisdom, they appreciate the gesture you're investing to help them grow. While some researchers say this is due to their upbringing where their parents are usually not around, or coming from a single-child or smaller families, Gen-Ys sometimes look for a Big Brother or a father figure at the workplace.
#8. Leverage on Technology
While we fumble through the instruction manuals trying to figure out a new game, you'll probably notice kids already outscoring you in less than 15 minutes. Growing up with technology means they are quick to familiarise themselves with the interfaces, and probably can make faster connections between one app and another. Allow them the opportunity to play and work with technology because it is already in their blood, and when you do that, they often see it as a sense of trust and responsibility.
SO, IT'S YOUR TURN NOW
As you can see, communicating across generation is not difficult. The goldern rule still applied here:
Different Strokes for Different Folks
What about you? Any tips to communicate effective with Millennials? Do share your experience working with that - best practices, personal observations, success strategies.
Wait, why's Mav posting on Steemit nowadays?
Well, unlike other blogging and social media platform, Steemit is the only platform that allows me to earn cryptocurrency when I engage with it. Yup, one Steem is about USD7, and you, too, can earn Steem Dollars every time you:
- Create content (articles, blog posts, podcasts, videos, photos)
- Upvote (like) other people contents
- Comment on other people's posts
- Have discussions, share opinions etc!
Yup, basically it's the very same thing you're doing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc all along!
The only difference? For once you can earn a nice income on the side!
Sign up for a free Steemit account, and you can thank me by coming back and upvoting this article. And guess what, you will earn Steem too for doing that! #awesome
Yes, your words, your notes, and even the antennas are very deep and correct But it remains the responsibility of the society to integrate and improve all areas for the advancement of future generations
Ermahgerd i'm a millennial
Enlightenment Achieved!
Somehow, you spoke my mind. Haha. Great one =)
High five!
I have two colleagues are millennials... very hyper, very observant, and always give them a chance to talk & be involved... sometimes i just lay back 😬😆.. Thks for sharing @maverickfoo...
You also millennial what. Hype, hip and happening!
I really like talking to millenials. The hardest part for me is the initial ice breaker. We had a new logistics problem in my office building and the person that I had to communicate with happend to be a millenial. The first few minutes of the conversation were very difficult. The young adult put up some serious emotional walls before the problem was even addressed. After a few minutes of asking them about their views and suggestons they finally became more approachable. It all seemed so unnesseary but the little extra effort on my part to try and understand produced a positive outcome. Your article has given me some new information that I will try to apply in my next opportunity.
Thanks for the sharing, @givonwayne. I think they may put up emotional walls as a defensive mechanism. Probably, they are outspoken naturally, but in school, or maybe at home, they are being shut/shot down.
I think as the older generation (sorry if you're still young!), we have to play our part by taking the first step to build the bridge. We pride ourselves of our age and experience, and hopefully wisdom, so it's only natural for us to reach out, and not just expect them to be proactive.
Also, I find gaining their trust and loyalty is way easier. Maybe due to lesser skeptism?
Until I stopped working, I was surrounded by millennials and the word I used most was "entitled"... but I loved listening to their ideas and secretly admired their confidence haha. However, what I was thinking most reading this post was what will my igens be like .... maybe you'll cover what to expect @maverickfoo as they are already amongst us (adults) as the oldest is 23 according to the chart haha
Haha, I think we need more data on that! I find that it's getting harder and harder to put them in boxes and label them, mainly due to their different levels of exposure to technology, education and their environment. That's why the education need to stop assuming every student is the same, because never in history is that notion further from the truth!
I wish I grew up with half the information available to me that Millenials have. I think once they get tired of taking selfies they are going to do some really great things. If my mom and her hippie friends grew up and became professionals, and me and my slacker friends grew up and got our shit together, I think these kids can grow to fix all the things the Baby boomers fucked up.
So true. They are indeed the leaders of tomorrow, and the question is - is our current education system able to produce a better class of leaders? Perhaps trusting it all on the education system is incorrect. Nothing beats having a good mentor, a conducive environment to learn and a good incentive to build the momentum. After that, just be prepared to watch them sprint and soar!
I am millennial myself and I can say 100% that we are not bad and even the statistics is not kind of a rule. Me myself and my friends from the same generation have the university degree and work full time in a very good companies. I guess therefore there is no such a thing as a approach advises- here works the same rules as for the rest of generations.
I think when it comes to research and statistics, there are always data that is removed. Hence, it becomes "general". Glad to know you and your friends are the outliers! Keep it up!
Very informative post @maverickfoo
Wow Mav, you really understand us well. It is true what you have written. You are an awesome representation for us for sure.
Hello, good to see you here. Gonna check out your feed in a bit. :) Sleep deprived from a 5 hour flight delay from KK, and now waiting to board the flight to Krabi/Koh Lanta.
I'm a millennial myself and I've noticed something:
What do you think?
Actually, if you look across all the other generations, the needs are they too. They are just represented and manifested in different ways. Regardless of our age, I always like to be Acknowledged, Appreciated and Affirmed.
The rest are probably our internal values being projected out into the world.
So what do you think are the big differences between Millenials and older generations in terms of projecting their values?
I think it goes with the territory, but generally speaking, Millenials are more "vocal" with their values. Hence tattoos, displays of individualism etc.
It is also evident in the things they do and the causes they support. While the older generation may be just ok with giving donations, the younger ones prefer to get their hands dirty and carry the load.
You're 100% spot on. Which then causes me to think why there's such difference? The exposure to online world is one cause I could think of. When us, Malaysians are aware of how others support the NGOs, we accepted the idea and wanted to do the same.
We know more and able to get more ideas, since most ideas are almost just a "google" away, we have accumulated tonnes of ideas in us and we wanted to make those ideas happen. This shows we're more "vocal". What do you think of this cause?
Not 100% sure on this, and I think it warrants deeper research and a possibly a post too!
(Y) (Y)
Hahaha good good! I'd like to hear more about this from your experiences.
So true, great post @maverickfoo.
I am a millenial myself and I "suffer" with all the symptoms that you have described here - I am impatient and need an instant reward, want to be involved, like being focused on growth and really appreciate constructive feedback. Would be interesting if you wrote further posts describing the other generations. How different are they? Could I see myself in other generations, too?
Hi @inspiranka, thanks for being honest. I guess we all are guilty of some of those traits as well.
Sure, I'll probably do a follow up post on the other generations too. Would love to discover ways to bridge the generation gap.
I find myself difficult to work with people 40 years old and above. The main reason is because they think they are right and we are wrong. Hence they shut out change, improvement and our ideas. If you could do a write up about working with different generations, I believe it'll help a lot of millenials and older generation to work together better.
Haha, I actually covered a bit about that in the follow up post here.
Good post
Resteemed by @resteembot! Good Luck!
Curious? Read @resteembot's introduction post
Check out the great posts I already resteemed.
RESTEEMBOT IS FOR SALE
I COULD WRITE CODE FOR YOU
Thanks for sharing this.its very informative
This article is an eye opener, it actually reveals alot. Thanks for the put in effort to get this
nice one bro
I have several friends close to my age who enjoy bashing millennials. I've gotten up and walked away from them when they do because their claims are all the ridiculous ones that so many (particularly right wing) people seem to believe and won't hear anything to the contrary.
Your first suggestion, with the instant gratification, on the surface seems to be exactly what most of these people complain about, the lack of long term thinking. But even as a non-Millennial (by your chart I'm a Gen X'r) I can see why instant gratification is more applicable not just to them but to many of us. The world is changing faster and faster and long term planning can't always keep up. As a child my grandfather would regale me with tales of working his way up from staff driver to Head of Engineering for an area hospital. He worked for the same company for years, had good benefits, job security, etc. He didn't understand when I tried to explain that most of that doesn't exist anymore. Companies are more likely to fire long term employees rather than reward them with a promotion. You simply can't count on any sort of long term planning nowadays. It has nothing to do with "everyone gets a trophy" mentality and everything to do with the reality of rapid change.
This is very very interesting! I am 74!
Resteemed to over 12500 followers and 100% upvoted. Thank you for using my service!
Send 0.200 Steem or 0.200 Steem Dollar and the URL in the memo to use the bot.
Read here how the bot from Berlin works.
We are happy to be part of the APPICS bounty program. APPICS is a new social community based on Steem. The presale was sold in 26 minutes. The ICO will start soon. Read here more: https://steemit.com/steemit/@resteem.bot/what-is-appics
@resteem.bot
This post was resteemed by @steemvote and received a 9.12% Upvote