Most important Generation: Millennials
By 2025 Millennials will be the largest group at work, you better be prepared
Leading or Managing teams is challenging because there is no one size fits all. There is no one method, tool, or system that can work in every situation. As a Leader, you have to understand, acknowledge and leverage differences. One way to understand the differences is the Generation gap.
We have different generations in the workplace. They all have shaped by different incidents in history, prefer different communication styles, and are motivated by different things. The most evident shift is in communication style, preferring face-to-face conversations to phone calls to texts and social medial. The keyword is "Preference", there is no right or wrong communication style here. It is just what people prefer.
Dynamics at the workplace has been changing with more and more millennials and Gen Z taking over the workforce. It is very valuable for companies and Leaders to understand these preferences and align with them. When it comes to building the best workplace, there is no "meet in the middle", it is always "meet where your employees prefer"
A 2017 study by PEW Research Center shows that Millennials were 35% of the US workforce[1]. Some of the studies claim that Millennials will be two-third of the US workforce by 2025. This particular claim is actually has been challenged and might not be true. But there is no doubt that by 2025 Millennials will be the largest group at work. Studies have shown that Millennials are more likely to change jobs when their expectations are not met. Six out of 10 millennials are open to new job opportunities.
It is important to understand what they expect from Companies and their direct managers. The good news is that Millennials are the most studied generation, they have received way too much attention not only from their parents but also from researchers and the press.
More and more Millennials are taking over leadership roles now and Leadership is changing from command and control style to transparent and consensus-based leadership. Here are some of the most important expectations Millennials have from their managers:
Coaching over Authority: The concept of Management is around for hundreds of years. Over time, there have been interesting parallels drawn between slavery and scientific management techniques. Traditionally the role of a Manager is seen as more of an authoritative and controlling figure over the team members. On contrary, millennials expect close relationships and frequent feedback from Managers. They expect their Manager or companies to provide the tools they need to succeed. Millennials look for a facilitator than a problem solver, focus on active listening and asking questions over dictating them.
Collaboration over Hierarchy: Millennials love social networks, share their lives over the internet, and are experts in collaborating over digital platforms. They want to see the Manager as a peer. A manager who works with the team side by side. Someone who hustles among them on the ground instead of sitting behind office doors. They prefer to collaborate with the Manager as a team member to solve interesting problems. They like to share ideas and prefer constant feedback. Use your one-on-one meetings to build a deeper connection with your team.
Development over Job Satisfaction: Millennials are not afraid of putting extra effort to learn and grow. Opportunities to learn and grow are the first thing Millennials consider while looking for a new job[2]. It will be interesting to see more research on how Millennials measure their development and growth. But learning new skills, getting higher in ranks, and earning more money are some of the obvious parameters. As a manager, if you want to keep them engaged make sure they are constantly being challenged and getting opportunities to grow. Work closely with your team members to build their development plan, define success criteria and hold them accountable for that.
Flexibility over Grind: Millennials are the first generation looking for ways to combine work and life. A study by Pentegra[3], has shown that ability to work flexible hours or working remotely has become a universal interest to Millennials. They want to take advantage of the technology to better combine their work and life. COVID-19 has accelerated the trends of virtual meetings & asynchronous communication. Now the desire for flexible hours and location is more than ever.
[1]https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/04/11/millennials-largest-generation-us-labor-force/
[2]https://www.gallup.com/workplace/238073/millennials-work-live.aspx
[3]https://pentegra.com/uploads/2018%20Millennial%20Benefit%20Trends%20Report%20.pdf