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What Millennials Want from Work: How to Maximize Engagement in Today's Workforce
The most comprehensive, in-depth look at Millennials to date―essential for managers, HR professionals, and global business leaders seeking to align long-term organizational goals with the realities of the new workforce Millennials have been burdened with a reputation as spoiled, lazy, and entitled, but the reality behind the stereotype is far richer and more complex. Who are Millennials and what do they really want? Based on fieldwork and survey data from global research on more than 25,000 Millennials and 29,000 older workers in 22 countries, this book paints a comprehensive, scientifically accurate picture of what really motivates Millennials around the world. Learn how to get the most from Millennials • Improving workplace flexibility―because Millennials don’t separate life and work
• Providing adequate support and feedback―because Millennials like to learn and grow
• Coaching, not micromanaging―because Millennials value autonomy
• Designing competitive salary structures―because Millennials know what’s up
• Providing opportunities to contribute to society―because Millennials care about doing good Millennials want a satisfying job that pays well, coworkers they like and trust, advancement opportunities, and the occasional pat on the back. Who doesn’t want those things? This essential book explains who Millennials really are, and offers practical advice to help those who manage, lead, and work with Millennials to improve teamwork, increase productivity, strengthen organizational culture, and build a robust talent pipeline. Jennifer J. Deal is a senior research scientist at the Center for Creative Leadership and an affiliated research scientist at the Center for Effective Organizations at the University of Southern California. Alec Levenson is a senior research scientist at the Center for Effective Organizations at the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.
• Providing adequate support and feedback―because Millennials like to learn and grow
• Coaching, not micromanaging―because Millennials value autonomy
• Designing competitive salary structures―because Millennials know what’s up
• Providing opportunities to contribute to society―because Millennials care about doing good Millennials want a satisfying job that pays well, coworkers they like and trust, advancement opportunities, and the occasional pat on the back. Who doesn’t want those things? This essential book explains who Millennials really are, and offers practical advice to help those who manage, lead, and work with Millennials to improve teamwork, increase productivity, strengthen organizational culture, and build a robust talent pipeline. Jennifer J. Deal is a senior research scientist at the Center for Creative Leadership and an affiliated research scientist at the Center for Effective Organizations at the University of Southern California. Alec Levenson is a senior research scientist at the Center for Effective Organizations at the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.
- GenresBusinessNonfiction
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 29, 2015
So-called Millennials (a.k.a. Gen Yers) - those born between 1980 and 2000 - generally have been characterized as demanding as employees; if what they're doing isn't interesting, they aren't interested in doing it. A work-life balance isn't a right that's earned through years of employment - it should be theirs from the get-go. And since much work can be done anywhere, anytime, who cares about nine to five?
But there's much more to their behavior than that; and this book lays it out in detail, based on research on Millennials from 22 countries including the United States. Knowing the subtleties of their behavior gives organization leaders an in-depth understanding of what's really going on - and thus become better at improving their places of work by knowing how to more effectively engage Millennials with their work, as players on company teams and as individuals more committed to the organization overall.
Basically, what Millennials want isn't all that different from the older folks in the working world: An interesting, well-paying job among workers they like and trust, the opportunity to advance and have their work acknowledged. But consider these points:
63% of Millennials agree the demands of work interfere with their home and personal lives, in part because today's technology means they're reachable pretty much 24/7. And, only one in 20 believes that the number of hours employees spend at work is an indication of how productive they are.
Millennials believe in commitment to work, but that doesn't mean they won't leave if they believe the grass is greener elsewhere - meaning a better chance for promotions, advancement and appreciation, among other things.
Of course, factoids like these don't tell the whole story - not by a long shot (hence the need for this book to be read by any employer who wants to get the best from this generation of workers). Each explanation of what Millennials want is followed by "The Point," a brief discussion of what organizations can do to get more bang for the buck. An example: Millennials want to know how they're doing. Managers should take heed, then, and provide Millennials with some sort of frequent feedback - even if it's just an acknowledgement that they've done the work. Chapters also include "Points to Remember" such as, "Millennials want to control their lives and work as much as possible," "Millennials don't want to be told precisely how to do everything" and "Millennials' technology knowledge can help keep the organization current."
Chapter 6, titled "How to Give Millennials What They Want...Without Going Bankrupt or Angering Older Workers," gets right down to the nitty gritty; it is, IMHO, worth the price of the book in and of itself. Laid out here are the specifics of how to attract, retain and engage Millennials through the three dimensions of people, work and opportunities (the latter includes feedback and communication, development and pay) complete with action plans for each. Follow this with numerous pages of references and suggested reading, and the result is gestalt (the whole is greater than the sum of its parts). I thank the publisher, via NetGalley), for providing me with an advance copy for review. Good stuff!
But there's much more to their behavior than that; and this book lays it out in detail, based on research on Millennials from 22 countries including the United States. Knowing the subtleties of their behavior gives organization leaders an in-depth understanding of what's really going on - and thus become better at improving their places of work by knowing how to more effectively engage Millennials with their work, as players on company teams and as individuals more committed to the organization overall.
Basically, what Millennials want isn't all that different from the older folks in the working world: An interesting, well-paying job among workers they like and trust, the opportunity to advance and have their work acknowledged. But consider these points:
63% of Millennials agree the demands of work interfere with their home and personal lives, in part because today's technology means they're reachable pretty much 24/7. And, only one in 20 believes that the number of hours employees spend at work is an indication of how productive they are.
Millennials believe in commitment to work, but that doesn't mean they won't leave if they believe the grass is greener elsewhere - meaning a better chance for promotions, advancement and appreciation, among other things.
Of course, factoids like these don't tell the whole story - not by a long shot (hence the need for this book to be read by any employer who wants to get the best from this generation of workers). Each explanation of what Millennials want is followed by "The Point," a brief discussion of what organizations can do to get more bang for the buck. An example: Millennials want to know how they're doing. Managers should take heed, then, and provide Millennials with some sort of frequent feedback - even if it's just an acknowledgement that they've done the work. Chapters also include "Points to Remember" such as, "Millennials want to control their lives and work as much as possible," "Millennials don't want to be told precisely how to do everything" and "Millennials' technology knowledge can help keep the organization current."
Chapter 6, titled "How to Give Millennials What They Want...Without Going Bankrupt or Angering Older Workers," gets right down to the nitty gritty; it is, IMHO, worth the price of the book in and of itself. Laid out here are the specifics of how to attract, retain and engage Millennials through the three dimensions of people, work and opportunities (the latter includes feedback and communication, development and pay) complete with action plans for each. Follow this with numerous pages of references and suggested reading, and the result is gestalt (the whole is greater than the sum of its parts). I thank the publisher, via NetGalley), for providing me with an advance copy for review. Good stuff!
December 2, 2015
This book relays survey data from thousands of Millennials in countries around the world, working in corporations to answer, "What is different about this generation and what do they need?" It does a nice job of avoiding stereotyping but instead comparing and contrasting trends. There are practical "What to do as a business..." sections for working with Millennials, but there also seemed to be a lot of repetitive sections. The general conclusions were that there are a few differences, but Millennials are continuing what other generations have sought: good feedback, good opportunities, a chance to have a life, all of which echo prior research findings.
December 14, 2015
Long story short, Millennials are just like everyone else so quit complaining about us! ;-)
When I saw the title I knew I wanted to read it as I’ve been reading everything I can recently on management, the workplace and professional development topics that interest me. The publisher, McGraw-Hill Professional kindly provided a pre-publication copy* and it will be available the first week of 2016.
Obviously, the ultimate lessons of the book are a bit more complicated than the opening of this post, but it really does boil down to something as simple as we’re all the same, just reacting to ever-changing technology, economy and society. It was reassuring to see this with well backed global research and written in an approachable and readable way.
Click here to continue reading on my blog The Oddness of Moving Things.
*This book was provided by the publisher and I received no compensation in return for an honest response.
When I saw the title I knew I wanted to read it as I’ve been reading everything I can recently on management, the workplace and professional development topics that interest me. The publisher, McGraw-Hill Professional kindly provided a pre-publication copy* and it will be available the first week of 2016.
Obviously, the ultimate lessons of the book are a bit more complicated than the opening of this post, but it really does boil down to something as simple as we’re all the same, just reacting to ever-changing technology, economy and society. It was reassuring to see this with well backed global research and written in an approachable and readable way.
Click here to continue reading on my blog The Oddness of Moving Things.
*This book was provided by the publisher and I received no compensation in return for an honest response.
December 30, 2015
Personally I found this book a bit to "everyone is this same" to really be enjoyable to read about. And while I am sure that a good amount of people really do feel as the book says, I personally fall directly in the middle of the "typical" millennialist an could not see anything of what I want or am like in this book. Which is the main reason that I did not get along with this book sadly.
Overall it was an okay book, but nothing that I would read again or got anything from. But if you are some that is more "a-typical" maybe this book will give you all kinds of tips and tricks.
What I do think, is that this book will be good for employers to read, escoailly if they employ a lot of younger people so that they might get a better feel for them since the book does give a nice overview of how most people of that age group might feel ever now and again.
*i received this copy through NetGalley in exchanged for a honest review*
Overall it was an okay book, but nothing that I would read again or got anything from. But if you are some that is more "a-typical" maybe this book will give you all kinds of tips and tricks.
What I do think, is that this book will be good for employers to read, escoailly if they employ a lot of younger people so that they might get a better feel for them since the book does give a nice overview of how most people of that age group might feel ever now and again.
*i received this copy through NetGalley in exchanged for a honest review*
June 16, 2018
I train and coach people skills to adults. Research-based, this book not only documents the issues, but also offers practical advice. Most books on "the Millennial problem" are big in THE PROBLEM but light on SOLUTIONS. This book truly helps you productively deal with the sticky issues at hand.
May 12, 2024
This is an interesting study and I'd love to see it repeated for Gen Z. The prose is dry as a bone, though, and as a Millennial myself I had a hard time hearing my own generation constantly referred to as "they" and "them" like some kind of anthropological oddity. Good idea, weird execution.
March 22, 2016
This review originally appeared on my blog at www.gimmethatbook.com.
Thanks to NetGalley for offering this book for review!
The older generation views pesky Millennials as needy, entitled and lazy. This book strives to dispel the negative views and demonstrate to the world that those born in the early ’80’s are valuable, hardworking individuals.
The words are not just hearsay; the authors did extensive research and gathered data from thousands of real people. This book is full of graphs showing how the stats vary, not just by age, but by country, marital status, and occupation. “Urban myths” about Millennials bringing their parents to job interviews are dispelled, with quotes and the truth according to those surveyed. Each chapter has a separate myth that is examined, explained and reiterated with points to remember. This format is easy to read and the examples contained illustrate the ideas in a thoughtful manner.
As a Boomer, I was quite eager to read this, so I could understand the Millennials that I manage. At times they seem like they are from another planet and it’s hard to figure out where they are coming from. As I read this book I found myself nodding and agreeing with the author’s assessments. For example:
“Needy does not mean dependent; while Millennials want support, feedback, mentoring and appreciation, that doesn’t make them dependent. They actually are being quite strategic. They think about what they need to be successful, and that’s what they ask for.”
The book also notes that Boomers grew up in a world where their parents had stable jobs, secure pensions and organizational tenure. Millennials grew up in a world where THEIR parents dealt with layoffs, wage stagnation and insecure retirement plans. They saw the consequences of not having a more independent attitude towards work and thus seek to have more control over their actions.
What is a manager to do? The authors suggest that they can aid their younger employees by:
providing more latitude for them to choose how and where work is done
give them more information about why individuals are selected to do certain tasks
help them understand how their current work fits into their career work more broadly
To me, this is solid advice. Once you understand where someone is coming from and what motivates them, you can construct a way of communication that benefits both parties.
Generational gaps are inevitable; but this book strives to minimize the conflict by being honest about Millennials; their background, their hopes and dreams, and their environment (fully technological). Moreover, it accomplishes this task by explanation, not maligning. I could easily say that I knew more about this generation after I finished the book, and there were many solid takeaways that I would be able to use at my own job.
Almost every conflict in the workforce is described, explained, and interpreted. Even if an issue hasn’t come up yet, a manager will be able to be able to understand it as it’s happening and handle it with aplomb. It seemed as though every chapter had excellent advice for anyone seeking to close the generation gap.
WHAT MILLENNIALS WANT FROM WORK is a well written, necessary book and should be required reading for any management team today.
Thanks to NetGalley for offering this book for review!
The older generation views pesky Millennials as needy, entitled and lazy. This book strives to dispel the negative views and demonstrate to the world that those born in the early ’80’s are valuable, hardworking individuals.
The words are not just hearsay; the authors did extensive research and gathered data from thousands of real people. This book is full of graphs showing how the stats vary, not just by age, but by country, marital status, and occupation. “Urban myths” about Millennials bringing their parents to job interviews are dispelled, with quotes and the truth according to those surveyed. Each chapter has a separate myth that is examined, explained and reiterated with points to remember. This format is easy to read and the examples contained illustrate the ideas in a thoughtful manner.
As a Boomer, I was quite eager to read this, so I could understand the Millennials that I manage. At times they seem like they are from another planet and it’s hard to figure out where they are coming from. As I read this book I found myself nodding and agreeing with the author’s assessments. For example:
“Needy does not mean dependent; while Millennials want support, feedback, mentoring and appreciation, that doesn’t make them dependent. They actually are being quite strategic. They think about what they need to be successful, and that’s what they ask for.”
The book also notes that Boomers grew up in a world where their parents had stable jobs, secure pensions and organizational tenure. Millennials grew up in a world where THEIR parents dealt with layoffs, wage stagnation and insecure retirement plans. They saw the consequences of not having a more independent attitude towards work and thus seek to have more control over their actions.
What is a manager to do? The authors suggest that they can aid their younger employees by:
providing more latitude for them to choose how and where work is done
give them more information about why individuals are selected to do certain tasks
help them understand how their current work fits into their career work more broadly
To me, this is solid advice. Once you understand where someone is coming from and what motivates them, you can construct a way of communication that benefits both parties.
Generational gaps are inevitable; but this book strives to minimize the conflict by being honest about Millennials; their background, their hopes and dreams, and their environment (fully technological). Moreover, it accomplishes this task by explanation, not maligning. I could easily say that I knew more about this generation after I finished the book, and there were many solid takeaways that I would be able to use at my own job.
Almost every conflict in the workforce is described, explained, and interpreted. Even if an issue hasn’t come up yet, a manager will be able to be able to understand it as it’s happening and handle it with aplomb. It seemed as though every chapter had excellent advice for anyone seeking to close the generation gap.
WHAT MILLENNIALS WANT FROM WORK is a well written, necessary book and should be required reading for any management team today.
February 2, 2016
This book is the result of a very comprehensive, global study of millennial workers. I learned much from reading it. I often measure a business book by how many notes I take, how many “aha” moments it provides and if there are valuable actionable items to glean from it. On that measure this book was about a 3.5. I took many notes and I am using some of the concepts for a people strategy consulting project at a fast paced technology company. The only reason I consider it a 3.5 vs a 4 is I found it very repetitive. Although in full disclosure I feel that way about many of the business books I read.
If you lead or manage millenials this is a worthwhile read. Consider this brilliant definition of management from the book: "Management tasks are to provide work that is interesting and worthwhile, to give feedback that is frequent and insightful, to trust them to do good work and to have some autonomy over the way they do it and to ensure that their voices are heard.” It’s a simple definition but one that takes hard work and the right culture to implement. I am pretty sure reading this book will provide you with some new ideas on how to do that work to increase employee engagement and possibly even reduce voluntary turnover.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
If you lead or manage millenials this is a worthwhile read. Consider this brilliant definition of management from the book: "Management tasks are to provide work that is interesting and worthwhile, to give feedback that is frequent and insightful, to trust them to do good work and to have some autonomy over the way they do it and to ensure that their voices are heard.” It’s a simple definition but one that takes hard work and the right culture to implement. I am pretty sure reading this book will provide you with some new ideas on how to do that work to increase employee engagement and possibly even reduce voluntary turnover.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
February 17, 2016
This book consists of thorough research & survey data from thousands of Millennials in countries around the world, working in corporations to answer, "What is different about this generation and what do they need?"
It does a nice job of avoiding stereotyping but instead comparing and contrasting trends. There are practical "What to do as a business..." sections for working with Millennials, but there also seemed to be a lot of repetitive sections. The general conclusions were that there are a few differences, but Millennials are continuing what other generations have sought: good feedback, good opportunities, a chance to have a life, all of which echo prior research findings.
I think the book is written for organizational leadership to mold their HR policies, and the style of presentation will serve them well!
I received a copy from netgalley for my review
It does a nice job of avoiding stereotyping but instead comparing and contrasting trends. There are practical "What to do as a business..." sections for working with Millennials, but there also seemed to be a lot of repetitive sections. The general conclusions were that there are a few differences, but Millennials are continuing what other generations have sought: good feedback, good opportunities, a chance to have a life, all of which echo prior research findings.
I think the book is written for organizational leadership to mold their HR policies, and the style of presentation will serve them well!
I received a copy from netgalley for my review
December 15, 2015
A fantastic book without stereotyping Millennials. It provides a strong voice with a view on fast technology changes, and how we all adapt to it.
The researches were completed worldwide, which is pretty amazing to see. It's beatifully written with a very redable for the regular reader.
I recived a copy from netgalley for my honest review
The researches were completed worldwide, which is pretty amazing to see. It's beatifully written with a very redable for the regular reader.
I recived a copy from netgalley for my honest review
Did Not Finish
November 26, 2015Could not read because I could not procure a Kindle ARC or ePub Arc. These authors supply a PDF which has to be stretched on an iPhone for every page which makes reading flow impossible to maintain.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews