Younger Generations in the Workplace

The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, and love to talk rather than work or exercise. They contradict their parents, gobble down food at the table, and intimidate their teachers.
I often use this quote to open my workshop on Generations At Work. Can you guess when it was written?  (It’s from Socrates, who lived around 400 BC!)
Much of the complaining about the “youth of today” is based on ignorance. Maybe you’ve also encountered this attitude from others in your workplace.
Different values, ideas, ways of communicating, and generations have always existed in the workplace. So, why is this becoming more of an issue now?
For the first time in history, there are four distinct generations in the workforce, all with their own perspectives, styles, and expectations.
In my experience, young people are not “slackers.” The amount of knowledge most carry, and their approach to acquiring knowledge, is amazingly different from prior generations. I see this with my own children when I quiz them about current affairs or try to stump them with a pop quiz. It’s not only what you know right now, but also knowing how to find the answer.
The Millennials are the most educated, technologically sophisticated generation ever. In general, Millennials value job satisfaction, security, and opportunity for advancement as priorities over financial compensation.
They respond well to being mentored by older, more seasoned professionals – and that’s our opportunity to make a difference in their lives!
Millennials want to do meaningful work, and they seek to develop relationships with creative, bright individuals who share that desire. They tend to get frustrated with bureaucracy and what might be perceived as unnecessary rules that slow down work.
When mentoring a Millennial:


Be positive.


Tie the message to the Millennial’s personal goals or to the goals the whole team is working toward.


Avoid cynicism and sarcasm.


I don’t like stereotypes either, but generational information serves as clues to help you engage in more rewarding ways with each person based on who they are—a unique human being.
We can then help our young people cultivate winning relationships with other generations – and find success in their careers!