Many think that Millennials see the world differently than previous generations.
The term Millennials is used to describe the generation of people born between the early 1980s and 1990s but some people also include children born in the early 2000s.
Millennials are seen as being more progressive, creative and far-thinking than earlier generations because they grew up with smartphones, tablets, laptops, internet, and social media networks.
By 2025 it’s expected that 75% of the global workforce will be classed as a Millennials.
For this reason, one of the challenges for organisations today is to adapt their working practices, environments and cultures to fit the demands of this age group.
So, Here are my 3 tips to effectively lead Millennials. Let’s begin.
The first tip is: Share the why.
Millennials want to know what’s behind everything.
As a leader, share with them why you do what you do, why you believe what you believe, and most importantly why you ask them to do what you want them to do.
Give them measurable goals and hold them responsible for reaching them.
Assigning precise goals to Millennials helps them understand how their role plays into the bigger picture.
Basically, they want to know that their work matters.
The more they know why they are doing something, the more driven they will be to achieve the goals you have set for them.
Without knowing the purpose, they could not always be as motivated as you might want them to be.
So share the “why” with them!
The second tip is: Be honest and transparent.
To successfully lead Millennials transparency is extremely important.
Transparency in leadership means keeping your employees in the loop, sharing both good and bad news.
Clear and frequent communication helps Millennials to avoid making false assumptions about their job or their organization by improving their overall performance.
You should strive to practice what you preach, it is important to set crystal-clear expectations, and communicate effectively with them.
Sometimes it could be tough to lead with transparency because it makes you feel vulnerable but if you are honest with them they will repay you with their loyalty and trust.
In fact, if you present yourself as a human being with values, strengths and weaknesses instead of being seen as a detached boss, you’ll earn greater understanding and support from Millennials.
If they feel they have a personal connection with you they’ll be more likely to accept negative news and constructive feedback.
So, embrace transparency and honesty to win their trust!
The third and final tip is: Allow flexibility.
Money is a driving factor for Millennials, as it is for any other generation.
But, when compared to previous generations, Millennials are less willing to dedicate most of their time to working.
Millennials consider their social life and work-life balance extremely important.
As a result, they usually want to work from home or remote locations, have flexible hours or less working hours.
Flexible hours would help them work whenever they are most productive.
They don’t measure work by the time they spend on it, but what matters the most to them is whether the work has been completed and the required goals achieved.
Studies report that about seventy percent of workers are willing to leave a job in case their boss doesn’t allow them to work flexibly.
For this reason, leaders and companies that want to hire and retain Millennials need to be ready to satisfy their preferences and adapt their working practices, environments and cultures to fit their demands.
So, allow Millennials to have control in their work, to boost their productivity and commitment.
These are the 3 tips that I think would help you to effectively lead Millennials.
