A Dozen Tips For Managing Millennials

Posted by on Aug 11, 2019 in Millennials | 0 comments

Millennials are different. They are baffling. And they are and will be your employees for a long time.

This specialized demographic, born between 1982 and 2000, is about eighty million strong. Connecting with Millennials is critical for a successful workplace. How does a business get to know them, motivate them, and retain them?

Here are a dozen tips for managing and motivating Millennials:

  1. Have a higher up meet her personally the day she starts work. Ask a fellow co-worker to meet her for lunch on that first day and serve as a go-to person if she has questions about her new workplace.
  2. The workplace is a Millennial’s home away from home. Curb appeal to Millennials is neutral decor with pops of bright colors, some cozy chairs to cuddle up in during breaks, and a desk that can be personalized. (Millennials are used to personalizing phone covers, ring tones … even bodies with tattoos.)
  3. Create a fun patrol that brings in surprises like pizza or macarons once a month.
  4. Millennials expect companies to understand their real-life needs. Pay off a part of student debt each year they are with you.
  5. Break long projects into segments and compliment Millennials after each segment. Compliments have to be sincere and should reinforce good work habits, like “Your extra effort paid off.”
  6. Offer a bit of Paleo, Bulletproof Executive, South Beach, and vegan if you have a cafeteria.
  7. Add a yoga class before or after work.
  8. Have a professional design at-desk exercises.
  9. Millennials want a profession with a purpose. They appreciate companies that allow for volunteer activity. It makes them feel proud of their company and enables them to grow in their skills while helping the community around them.
  10. Offer reverse mentoring. Experienced employees can teach telephone skills, maybe even manners. Millennials can teach social media skills.
  11. Encourage bosses to act more like coaches. Try chats during the year instead of the dreaded yearly employee review.
  12. Ask Millennials for advice about which social media best fits your company’s products and services. Millennials want to feel like part of the team.

Millennials prefer to work for companies that recognize and honor their unique values and perspective.