Hiring the brightest and best employees will do wonders for your business. Millennials are the new voice of the future but there is some work to be done to mold them. Studies have found that millennials aren’t so easy to manage stating that they’re not focused, have a sense of entitlement, and tend to be unmotivated.
Leaders are desperate to find out what it is that will motivate millennials. They have gone as far as to ask what they can do for their employees. Millennials in return suggested incentives like free snacks and beverages or a place to hang out during breaks.
Employers complied with these requests but it hasn’t amounted to a substantial change in the way they do work. Understanding their upbringing, environment, and social norms will help you figure out how to counteract the frame of mind they have.
Understanding Millennials
The fresh bright mind that is working an entry level position in your company was likely brought up by parents that told them they could have everything they wanted. There was no clear direction that they would have to work for what they wanted. Participation medals were given for the kid who came in last place to nurture their sensitive psyche.
When they got older, they naturally stepped away from their parents and found people to socialize with. The problem is with social media being so prevalent is that kids never really developed strong personal relationships. There was the dual stress of being a teenager along with a feeling of not truly belonging to any one tribe.
We are a tribal species so this integral part of being human is missed. When a millennial feels sad, depressed, stressed out or out of place, there really is nobody to lean on. They can’t rely on friends when they’re going through something and have no experience in forming deep and meaningful relationships.
Social media has not helped in the matter. The act of pretending you’re a tough person when you’re ridiculously alone leads to several various issues with how one socializes. Social media is an addiction, like alcohol and it is plays a big hand in the psyche. Dopamine is the same chemical that’s released when you gamble or drink.
When you have millennials on your team, understand that while you have educated, smart employees, the majority are addicted to something that is socially acceptable and legal. Social media is not good for self-esteem and the evolution of loneliness is an epidemic.
Understand that millennials have grown up in a world where everything comes quickly and easy. The only thing that doesn’t isn’t is job satisfaction and deep relationships. These things take time and it can be frustrating for some millennials to cope with this.
So how can you properly motivate your millennials and help develop the skills of patience and adaptability? Imagine if you could create a work environment where they felt deeper connections with colleagues. Millennials are a very bright, aware generation with plenty of education and their finger on the pulse to how the world ticks.
Cut Social Media Out of the Workplace
A University of Houston study concluded that individuals who logged into Facebook frequently, reported higher symptoms of depression. When you cut social media out of the workplace, it may seem like an unfair rule but essentially, you’re helping your employee out. They learn how to be happy and fulfilled in the supportive work environment you give them.
While social media can give them a dose of happiness, they become distracted and often search for more of the same feelings. When they have no responses, or likes, they have the potential to become moody. When you prevent social media from your employees at the workplace, they are more engaged with tasks at hand.
No Cell Phones in the Meeting Room
Face up, face down. Not before, not after. Cell phones shouldn’t even be allowed to go past the doors of the meeting room. The message it gives to everyone else in the room is that the person just isn’t interested. This can cause major problems in employee engagement during meetings and pull down company morale as a whole.
Instead, encourage your employees to take this time to talk to one another. When your employees wait for the meeting to start, they will talk with one another. This builds much needed rapport, integrates good social practice among colleagues and creates a good team environment prior to meetings.
Give Millennials Short Term Goals
Millennials tend to be impatient, mostly thanks to the availability of obtaining things at a rapid pace. Anything you want today can be delivered the following day. You can watch movies with a click or purchase a product that will arrive tomorrow. You can start dating someone tomorrow when you join an online dating site today. This has created a world full of people with little patience to do the legwork to get what they want.
In giving your millennial workers small milestones they can work towards, you give them the feeling that they’re making a difference. This is the feeling they’re after when they go to work. They want to be the change and make an impact on the world without really understanding the time it takes to get the true feeling of fulfillment. Feed the feeling and encourage them to pursue the long, uncomfortable road it takes to truly make a difference.
Team Building for Rapport
If you really want a team of motivated millennials, get them involved in team building of some kind. It should involve exercises that give your employees the feeling that there is connection. These exercises might even seem scary for some that have sadly never had deep connections in their life. It can be powerful when your team truly sees each other.
They may start to realize the feeling they have been missing is something they want to explore even further. In the workplace, when they have connections with you and their co-workers, they’re more susceptible to helping. It should be organic and even small things should be practiced daily. As you are the leader, lead by example. If you want them to care about your business, you should also care about them.
Be the Change You Want to See
If you want an engaged staff, you must lead by engaging with them. Small things like eye contact or asking them how they’re doing go a long way. You don’t have to schedule meetings, just take a minute to go to their desk and ask your individual employees how they are. If they’re having problems, go out of your way to fix it. Maybe they need assistance on a project. If you don’t have time, find the right person in your organization. Let them know in subtle ways that they are not disposable and that you want them to stay with your company.
You have the opportunity to help develop the brilliant minds and create important values they may never learn elsewhere. You may have to work extra hard to teach them social skills that were never learned through their upbringing. Leading by example and being the most supportive leader while giving your millennial employees a feeling of belonging and stability will go a long way in their growth with your business. As you give them your loyalty, they will also give you theirs.
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