Millennials: It’s not them, it’s you
Millennials: It’s not them, it’s you
I have come across many articles, speakers, and opinion pieces on millennials being demanding, whining, instant gratification hungry offspring of helicopter parents. According to these articles, they expect higher pay than they deserve. They expect rewards and accolades without putting in the work. They expect to graduate and dive into leadership positions. They don’t feel like they owe the business anything first-because they are “special” after all. Right?
Leaders vent openly around the conference room tables about the troubles surrounding millennial expectations they learned at a recent conference. Their frustration is palpable and makes total sense. These leaders have spent years fighting to climb to the top. They paid their dues to get where they are and nobody patted them on the back saying good job the whole way through. They had to sacrifice relationships as they wore their Blackberries, tethered to the office 24/7. These leaders cannot even fathom someone taking them seriously fresh out of college.
There are a number of challenges to this approach. But let’s start with what is your goal as a leader? Generally, when I ask this question, my clients answer “to grow the business”. A number of how’s later, we almost always land on by nurturing and growing the people in the organization. If you want to help your company grow, you are not going to get there by protecting the way business was done when you started and crushing the new talent by lacking respect for them. So, what should you do?
The same thing any strong leader would do. Raise your energy level up so you can expand your lens to see all the opportunities. “Did she just say ‘energy’?” Yes, I did. Let me explain.
You know the difference between the days you feel on fire at work, and the days you dread going in. That is your energy. It is narrowed or expanded based on the way you look at what you have to do. For example, you could look at meetings as a great opportunity to connect as a team and brainstorm. Alternatively, you could dread spending another wasted hour listening to someone blow their own horn and toss out useless ideas that won’t go anywhere.
The same filters apply to the way you look at your workforce, especially those in generations of differing values. The best thing you can do as a leader is raise your own energy level, see the opportunities, and find a way to lead these future powerhouses that were born to be change agents. They have great potential to take your business far. I work with my clients to help them do just this. To accomplish more by digging into the perceptions they have and identify the opportunities to help them raise not only their energy, but the energy of their teams so they can maximize the growth potential of themselves, their teams, their companies, and their bank accounts.
Here are a few tips to help you get started in successful relationships with millennials:
Be Curious - You would be surprised what you could learn about the motivations of others by asking questions with open curiosity. The key here is to peel back the judgment. Judgment closes doors. Curiosity will help you build relationships and opportunities.
Show Empathy – The millennials care about climbing the ladder and making that money all while working with purpose. Well, working for a purpose hardly sounds like something to scoff at, so let’s zero in on the money. They are graduating from college with rising student loan debt rates, and are want to flip their debt to income ratio. Can you relate to that as a driver to growth in your career?
Stop the Rants – Around many leadership tables, you would be surprised how many millennials are already amongst you. When you speak out about them the way we describe above, these individuals cannot relate. They may be crushed by the assumptions that they fit in this box someone at some conference has described to you. Instead of buying into the hype, look at your employees. They have strengths and they have gaps. You are the leader. Change the game. You have the power to help drive the business with their strengths and guide the employee to strengthen their gaps. Accept the challenge!
So go out there and make some changes! Your millennial change agents are looking to you to help lead the charge and guide them on making the shifts happen. If you need help along the way, please email, text, or book a complimentary session with me. Together, we can reshape the leadership for tomorrow.
Article Written By Rachel Carey, Leadership Coach, People Strategist, and Speaker at Emerging Lotus Coaching
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