Working with Millennials: You’re Doing It Wrong
Posted June 8th, 2016
Millennials now make up the largest percentage of the American workforce, and the oldest members of the generation are starting to move into management positions. Considering how important this expansive group of employees is to your present and future success, it’s essential that you understand how best to work with them. Watch our for these common mistakes:
Obscuring Your Company Culture
Millennials want to work for companies that share their values and goals. To a certain extent, this is more of a priority than working for companies with a prestigious name or big compensation packages. Failing to emphasize your company culture as part of your recruiting and retention strategy will lead a lot of millennial talent to look for opportunities elsewhere.
Treating Your Talent Like Kids
Many employers have filled their open-floor-plan offices with irrelevant distractions like foosball tables, swing sets, video games, and bean bag chairs. Far from feeling relaxed and laid back, this makes the office seem like a place for kids. Millennials are serious professionals and want to be treated as such.
Managing with a Heavy Hand
Today’s talent is particularly put off by old-school-style bosses who micromanage and look for every opportunity to criticize, while displaying little vision or aptitude of their own. Instead, they want to be managed in a way that supports their professional and personal development. They are looking for a coach, not an entitled overlord.
Conducting Annual Reviews
Since this generation was raised with the internet and cell phones, they are accustomed to constant ongoing conversations and easy access to information. Rather than conducting annual or even bi-annual reviews, make performance a topic that is addressed regularly and always open for discussion.
Focusing on Weaknesses
One of the most significant features of millennials is their overall positivity. Instead of trying to correct weaknesses, focus on amplifying strengths. This strategy is more appealing to younger employees, and it’s been shown to be a more effective way to optimize the performance of everyone in your workforce.
Pigeonholing Your Staff
Millennials are excellent multitaskers, have a broad base of skills and experiences, and grow restless with repetitive responsibilities/assignments. As much as possible, give your team the chance to vary up their workday. This helps to keep your team members engaged while taking advantage of all that they have to offer.
Ignoring Work-Life Balance
This generation may look for meaning in the work that they do, but they’re also looking to have meaningful time away from it. If your office requires a 24/7 365 commitment, you will quickly alienate millennials who resent that their job has taken over so much of their time, energy, and focus.
How is your relationship with your millennial workforce? If you’re ready to update your recruitment and retention strategies to appeal to the talent of today and tomorrow, contact Bayside Solutions.
