Whether you call them Generation Y, Millennials, the 9/11 Generation, or the Facebook Generation, they are different. Maybe better, maybe worse than the cohort of young people that preceded them, they are unique in their behavior and views. Entrepreneurs often encounter this group of talented people these days, as do all employers. They were written about, and thanks to blogging, they wrote about themselves in volumes. They have the stereotype that they have the attention span of a particularly frivolous flea, are constantly attached to some device and need constant confirmation just to mention a few random characteristics. How accurate are these representations? Are there any characteristics that can really apply to many of these young people? How can a savvy boss use his strengths and beat the rest?
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So…
The habit of beginning every explanation or presentation with the word “so” is very common among young people, and perhaps especially among the highly educated. Who appropriated this discursive marker as the verbal equivalent of clearing one’s throat before a lengthy explanation? We may never know for sure, but a wise employer will try to ignore the annoyance of this verbal tick. However, try to convince young people to avoid this in presentations to older people – it won’t impress them.
What hours?
Timekeeping is now the task of a mobile phone or other portable device. How to deal with it? Keep this in mind and don’t be surprised or annoyed when your young colleagues, contractors or freelancers reach for their phones to sync their time. Consider using one of several apps (including the free Google Calendar) that let you plan together.
Attention span
Anyone surprised? Since the days of Sesame Street and its successors, youth-oriented media has jumped from one topic to another faster and faster. Sometimes it seems (at least to the father) that millennials can absorb only a limited amount of information at once, and then just stop listening. How to answer? Keep your explanations short – the shorter the better. Check back later to make sure your message was understood. Make a written set of expectations, as these children often received throughout school. Think about presenting details the same way you would about building a website; provide a teaser beforehand, as well as an opportunity to go deeper and get the meat material afterwards.
Never leaving the nest
Don’t be surprised or judgmental if your young employee/colleague lives at home and talks to their parents daily. At least in the US, family planning means that these children were wanted and planned for more than in previous generations. They don’t have to party to feel like adults, especially when it’s so cozy at home. This may be a plus for you. They can only afford to take on jobs they really want, not just to survive.
Risk aversion
This generation grew up with the ubiquitous hand sanitizer; don’t expect them to be willing to take risks.
multitasking
These people have been doing their homework, watching a movie, listening to music, messaging on social media, and checking email at the same time since they were old enough to manipulate their thumbs. They are unlikely to change just because they work for you or with you. If you build this multitasking into your expectations, you won’t be disappointed. Consider apps or software that let you track the progress of a project in case there is too much chatter and too little work.
club of procrastinators
This is not the case for all millennials, but many of them have also been caffeinated from a very young age. They can get into the habit of delaying the start of a task until almost the last possible moment, then pushing themselves with high doses of…whatever supposed energy booster they prefer. This can be confusing for an employer or colleague who would rather be watching the progress of a project during what is normally considered normal business hours. However, in a globalized world, working at night can be a useful strategy.
Embracing Diversity
For the most part, schools have made children well aware of the idea of celebrating diversity. As a result, it may be easier for you to put together a team that respects each other than it was in decades past. Take advantage of this to increase your firm’s diversity and reap the rewards.
Team players – yes and no
Schools also provide training in group work. This means that these millennials can collaborate and collaborate well. It’s very efficient who it works for. There is also a sub-group that, like one young man he knows, has over a thousand Facebook friends with whom he texts regularly. This very smart guy, however, cannot even make a business phone call due to his paralyzing shyness. You may be able to find such a person during the interview process and find a tech-savvy colleague who can solve problems on his own. Just be ready to help them develop teamwork skills if needed.
Use these young talents with all their strengths and characteristics. They will repay you for your care and efforts.
An article by David Tucker, an experienced blogger and editor. David currently works with Helpfulpapers.com, a professional writing service that specializes in various types of content solutions. David loves to write and has been since he got used to pen and paper.
