Steering younger employees towards a productive future

Are the Millennials (those 30 years or younger) really the worst generation of workers ever? 

Many frustrated managers and older co-workers would answer with a resounding “Yes!”

Workplace Options recently surveyed workers about Millennials and found:

• 77% think Millennials have a different attitude toward responsibility than their elders

• 68% say Millennials are less motivated than other groups, and

• 46% believe Millennials are less engaged than older workers.

Make improvement one-on-one

Keep in mind: Older generations frequently have their gripes with younger folks making their mark in the workforce.

Rather than taking a seminar on “Managing Millennials” (as if you have time for that), you’re better off dealing with any Millennial staffers one-on-one.

Here are two ways you can motivate and communicate with any younger staffers who could step up their performance:

1. Give them more feedback

Millennials got trophies their whole lives for showing up and hearing good things said about them.

They thrive on feedback, so set up regular sessions with them.

Caveat: Don’t go out of your way pointing out positives. If the feedback they need is a kick in the rear, then let ’em have it.

Assuming they do improve, follow up and let them know you see it – and keep it up.

2. Clue them in

Millennial staffers may not know (or worse, not care!) how older generations perceive them.

So show them the statistics from Public Policy and make changing people’s minds a personal challenge.

For example: They should want co-workers saying, “Mike may be young, but he’s no slacker!”