Dealing with the Millennium Generation: It Boils Down to Leadership and Understanding
Posted on February 4, 2008
Filed Under Millennium Generation |
A recent 60 Minutes’ report on today’s “Millennium” generation has created quite a stir in the corporate world.
The gist of the entire segment was that young adults these days (19-27 year-olds) want to earn a living only on their own terms, which means having a flippant attitude towards management, rules and corporate structure. In my company alone, there have been literally dozens of memos handed down from senior management attempting to give us front line managers the tools needed to reign-in this new crop of “spoiled kids.”
Here’s a quote from the 60 Minutes print story to sum up how many employers view those of you who belong to the Millennium Generation:
“Faced with new employees who want to roll into work with their iPods and flip flops around noon, but still be CEO by Friday, companies are realizing that the era of the buttoned down exec happy to have a job is as dead as the three-Martini lunch. “
Interestingly enough, the story ran on Veteran’s Day 2007. I thought it ironic for 60 minutes to be running such a story on this particular holiday. It makes me think of all the Millennium Generation 20-somethings sitting in sand bunkers in Iraq right now: something tells me that they are not as flighty and lazy when it comes to their workplace. Telling their boss what time they want to arrive at work would earn them a quick trip to a court martial. Is CBS somehow using this as a strike at our troops? What’s more, all things being equal, the big advantage the military has over most corporate workplaces is LEADERSHIP.
I am of the belief that 20-somethings today are no different than those of my era (the 1980s) or those of the Baby Boomer era (the 1960s)… the label “Millennium Generation” changes nothing. The truth is, if you are a manager in today’s corporate society, and you feel disdain or frustration towards young workers; it is you who have a problem and need some coaching on true leadership. It may actually be time for you to put yourself out to pasture. In contrast, if you are young, vibrant and ready for the world, it would serve you to take a step back from your FaceBook profile and learn a little something from that dinosaur, or you may well end up like him in another 20 years.
There is nothing new under the sun when it comes to genuine leadership and solid people skills. Employees will follow someone successful whether he is wearing a 3-button business suit, or cutoffs and Teva’s with a tank top. In fact, followers will emulate their leader if he carries himself correctly. Whether you know it or not, you all (no matter what your age) are influenced by someone, and most times, it’s someone you emulate or want to model yourself after.
In the coming months, I will write more on this subject. I will teach you old grumps to adapt with the changing times, as well as help you Millennials learn to cope with those above who appear as relics.
Together, we can do wonderful things by combining the wisdom of experience, with the freshness of bright ideas and technological prowess. I know, because I employ 36 Millennials right now, and I cherish everyone of them! (but I have to admit, they have given me early grays on my head at my young age of 35!)
I will leave you with this ageless quote: “A Leader is someone who instills within the heart of the follower, a desire to follow.”
Your comments are welcome! (no matter what your age)
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3 Responses to “Dealing with the Millennium Generation: It Boils Down to Leadership and Understanding”
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I found your site on google blog search and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. Just added your RSS feed to my feed reader. Look forward to reading more from you.
- Sue.
Hi Sue and welcome aboard!
I hope we can share some good information!
new blog allyn? very nice! you’re only 35? shoot, only a few years older then me. But i get your point about today’s youngsters. i think the dot com millionaires have brainwashed all of our youth. They think it’s easy to make a buck. They think that it’s easy to become the next youtube guys. Or the next kevin rose. They don’t realize that those guys are outliers. That they are not the norm. Need to change america’s work ethic. Working smarty as opposed to harder is my theory. but the youngin these days don’t even want to work smarter.