[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Millennials can be categorized as young adults born between 1980 and 2000 (The date range is up for debate). These individuals however, are largely believed to be independent, outgoing and decisive. The young adults of this milleniall era were raised by parents who focused on structure by providing planned activities and constant encouragement, thereby turning them into individuals with high self-esteem and fulfilment. Therefore, they do not prefer being micro-managed. Instead, they tend to seek ‘freedom at work’ in a quest to learn and explore. They are individuals who prefer to be ‘taught’ over being ‘told’, and they seek out opportunities where they are allowed to make their own decisions and do not encourage any form of control.
Millennials tend to work well with diverse co-workers, they prefer working together in teams and tend to grow their relationships beyond just work with their co-workers. These free-spirited individuals prefer taking up challenges instead of abiding with monotonous work daily. Though they seek guidance and structure from their older counterparts, they also expect to be duly respected for the decisions they make. They are considered to be one of the most well-connected generations, which opens up a host of opportunities. In this case, it is all the more important for the management to retain these young individuals in the workforce. They are an asset to any organization as they possess the natural ability and motivation to manage numerous tasks. The question however, would be whether it is possible to manage these individuals? Let’s find out how:
Listen before you speak: This would be an important trait that millenials seek in their leader. A leader is someone who must be keen to ‘listen’ to their followers. They believe that a good leader is one who hears out every individual opinion, before making a decision that affects the entire team. These individuals have been raised with high amounts of self-respect and this is clearly reflected in their attitude. They have been encouraged to think right from when they were children and prefer their thoughts and ideas to be heard by someone in authority.
Provide flexibility: Millennials naturally tend to bring their personal life into their work environment. They are a vocal generation, who have been encouraged to speak out their mind. They prefer having a relaxed work-environment, where they are provided flexible work hours. Family is a priority for these individuals and they have various extra-curricular interests that they like to pursue. They are also of the mindset, that as long as the work gets done in time, providing flexibility should not be a concern for the management.
Introduce in-between promotions: The millennials are eager to progress in their career, they do not like waiting for promotions, as they receive career growth and better prospects when moving from one company to another. Hence, it is ideal to encourage and motivate them by providing faster promotions and titles. Doing this makes them feel appreciated for their work and they have a will to stay with the organization.
Provide on-the-job training and education: Msot millenials are largely multi-taskers and like taking up new roles, beyond their day-to-day tasks. They like to contribute much beyond their set roles and responsibilities and like to step out of their roles once in a while. They stay motivated only when monotony is taken out of the routine. They seek to learn and appreciate knowledge, as they are constantly trying to build themselves and their growth curve. Therefore, these individuals like to gain any form of on-the-job trainings. They also expect companies to support their further education and short-term skill upgrade and development courses, by allowing them to pursue the same. The organization could help by providing flexible working hours and also grant leave during such examinations.
Weschool believes that these are small ways to relate with this young and important workforce, to keep them engaged and motivated constantly. For more information on leadership skills and training programs, please visit our website for details at www.welingkarexedp.com[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]