Millennials view:
Millennials have surpassed Baby Boomers as the largest living generation, according to population estimates released this month. Millennials, whom we define as those ages 18–34 surpassing Baby Boomers (ages 51–69).
Millennials, also known as Generation Y or the Net Generation, are the demographic cohort that directly follows Generation X. What, exactly, is the millennial generation? … Howe and Strauss define the Millennial cohort as consisting of individuals born between 1982 and 2004.
Millennials have been characterized in a number of different ways. On the negative side, they’ve been described as lazy, narcissistic and prone to jump from job to job. The 2008 book “Trophy Kids” by Ron Alsop discusses how many young people have been rewarded for minimal accomplishments (such as mere participation) in competitive sports, and have unrealistic expectations of working life.
A story in Time magazine said polls show that Millennials “want flexible work schedules, more ‘me time’ on the job, and nearly nonstop feedback and career advice from managers.”
OK, as Millennials you have a number of key differences from the ones that came before you. For one, you seek meaning and purpose and you are more likely to job hop until you are certain your passion fits in. Is that so bad? individuals full of passion?
You now also make up one of the largest shares of the Canadian workforce and we as business owners need to align with your values and rethink about how we develop and train you in a way to mentor you into leadership positions.
If we gain a clear understanding of how YOU as Millennials view leadership, we can significantly enhance their ability to attract, develop and retain top performers and, in turn, improve our bottom line.
Of course, we need to appoint the right people, but we also need to make sure we are continually investing in and developing the right ones. Knowing what makes Millennials different in terms of leadership can help build future success.
Half of the motivating force for millennials is to inspire and empower other people without tiers of overhead management.
Are Millennials good at leading? perhaps more importantly, what does an effective leader look like to them? Millennials most important skills in leadership are communication and being able to build relationships, qualities for which the majority feel they already possess… Millennials want their leadership style to be transformational and inspirational; they want to excite other people and make them feel like they have a purpose. Millennial leaders, want employees to contribute to making important decisions and create a more collaborative environment where they exchange ideas with peers and accomplish a mission instead of a corporate culture that is too stiff with too many policies and procedures.”
Empowerment – not money – motivates Millennials to lead.
To appeal to millennials, it is important for existing leadership to ensure the organization has practices in place that prioritizes training and development. It is crucial that businesses demonstrate potential hires will have room to grow, learn and advance– many of millennials do not feel like their leadership skills are being fully developed. Businesses that do not make leadership development a priority are at a competitive disadvantage and may be severely harming their retention rates.
Millennials are confident, self-expressive, upbeat and receptive to new ideas we need to embrace what makes them unique and provide the opportunity to help them grow into great leaders.
Download a Global Report – Millennials in the workforce
