Advice for Employers and Recruiters
The Millennial Makeover Part 6: How to Manage Effectively
William Frierson
Senior and junior businessman discuss something during their meeting, office background. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.
When it comes to today’s workforce, there is no doubt that millennials are creating an atmosphere of change in the workplace. So, who are millennials? This group was born between 1980 and the year 2000, and reflect a generation with their own career goals, attitudes, and oh yes, their understanding of how to use technology. For employers to take their companies to the next level, they will need to find ways to recruit and retain millennials, also known as Generation Y.
Managing millennials creates a challenge for employers who may be used to their own specific structures in the workplace. While millennials can appreciate organization, they wouldn’t mind working in a more relaxed environment. By giving them more freedom to work in a way that is comfortable, millennials can potentially increase their productivity. For example, allowing them to use technology to communicate is something natural to these workers. Perhaps, the most important thing for an employer to do in order to manage Gen Y effectively is understand them.
So, what works best for millennials on the job? In addition to being tech-savvy, they want to work in a place where they feel comfortable and can express their creativity. Who knows, one of your young employees may think of the next big idea to help your company succeed. Millennials also do not want to feel like they are working alone in an office but prefer interacting with one another, while being engaged. One study found that employees who are more engaged give 57% more effort and are 87% less inclined to leave their jobs than employees who are not engaged.
Clash of generations
At the same time employers are learning how to manage millennials, they also need to figure out how to deal with any conflict that may arise between different generations of workers. Even though mature workers may have their opinions of their younger counterparts, employers should be careful not to be influenced by them and focus on what millennials can bring to the table. According to a recent study, one factor that may contribute to tension between Gen Y and older generations is the belief that the former’s personal drive intimidates the latter. While there are risks in having a multi-generational workforce, it can be done. One solution that can benefit companies is “reverse mentoring”. This concept gives millennials a chance to help older employees with technology, while they can absorb knowledge from more experienced workers. As a result, relationships are established that create a better understanding of each other.
If employers want to manage millennials effectively, they must be willing to understand them. That may mean adjusting their workplace structures to more relaxed environments. Being able to work in a way that is comfortable can improve the productivity of millennials, as well as keep them engaged on their jobs.
In the final article of the millennial makeover series, we will focus on what employers can do to recruit millennials and get the best out of them.
Source: PwC
To read previous articles in The Millennial Makeover series, click on the links below.
The Millennial Makeover: Why This Group Matters in the Workplace
The Millennial Makeover Part 2: What They Want in the Workplace
The Millennial Makeover Part 3: What Employers Should Know About These Modern Workers
The Millennial Makeover Part 4: What Attracts Them to Your Company
