There’s no denying that Millennials make up today’s bulk of the working population. However, many companies still find it difficult to connect with and understand this group. For most employers, millennials are considered to be the “difficult breed” or at times, the “privileged” generation. Nevertheless, such a generation has arguably been bringing a new set of strengths and vibe in the workplace. Surveys suggest that millennials actually seek to make a difference in the company they work for.
Hence, it is crucial that their managers support their plans and interests in relation to the company’s overall goals as well.
Here are some ways managers can productively handle their millennial workforce and retain them in the organization:
Utilize their “Tech-Prowess”
Millennials have been known to be the generation to maximize and harness the power on social media and the internet. Such skills = and experience can obviously help your organization to effectively communicate across all platforms and channels. Moreover, they can further share the skills to their teams and further improve relationships as they are always seeking to give value to the organization they belong to.
Focus on their long-term plans
When it comes to job tenure, millennials are often viewed as “job hoppers”. However, millennials would argue that they just know what they want and are willing to leave an organization when it doesn’t coincide with their long term goals anymore. They appreciate managers who put their “best interests” first when it comes to their professional and personal development.
Be Authentic to them
Mistakes and misunderstandings occur despite the best intentions and efforts. The only way to deal with problems is to be honest and listen empathically so you can figure out where the problems are stemming from. Millennial employees admire when leaders are honest in difficult circumstances, whether or not they get the answer they were hoping for.
Coach Them Properly
Millennials enjoy taking control of projects that can make an impact to both the organization and for their self-growth. Feedback is critical in determining whether they are performing well or need to improve. It should focus on encouragement and motivation – from praise to constructive criticism, with managers taking on the role of a coach rather than a conductor.
Create genuine involvement
Job seekers are becoming more selective in choosing employers that align with their own values and beliefs as a result of increased transparency through technology on how organizations are managed and what they stand for. As a result, satisfaction in the workplace is generally driven by developing openness, celebrating diversity, and promoting ethical awareness.
Making the most of the millennial workforce is critical to company growth and success. Understanding how to best utilize the abilities and expertise of millennials may appear to be a daunting (and sometimes annoying) task, but investing the time to tap into this generation could pay off very well in the future.