8 Ways to Communicate Better with Millennials

When I mention Millennials, or Generation Y, what are a few words that come into mind?

Depending on your experience with them, you may think of words like:

money-minded, overly ambitious, entrepreneurial, hippie-mentality, rebellious, not loyal, talks fast, can’t focus…

And the list goes on. Truth be told, they are not as different as the rest of the generations. They are just different because of their upbringing, their exposure to fast-paced technology all the time, quality of education and variety of opportunities.

Yup, they are just wired a little differently.

And you wanna know the truth? They would say the same thing about babyboomers and Generation Xs too, who were brought up in a post-war world. Trust me, you wouldn’t want me to tell you their remarks and comments. :)

Before we go into looking at ways to work better with this next generation leaders, let's have a look at how the Millennials are being defined.

MEET THE GENERATIONS

Usually, the easiest way to define what generation someone is in, is by looking at the period he or she was born in.

GENERATON NAME	BIRTH STARTS	BIRTH ENDS	YOUNGEST AGE TODAY*	OLDEST AGE TODAY*
The Lost Generation - The Generation of 1914	1890	1915	103	128
The Interbellum Generation	1901	1913	105	117
The Greatest Generation	1910	1924	94	108
The Silent Generation	1925	1945	73	93
Baby Boomer Generation	1946	1964	54	72
Generation X (Baby Bust)	1965	1979	39	53
Xennials	1975	1985	33	43
Generation Y - The Millennials, Gen Next	1980	1994	24	38
iGen/Gen Z	1995	2012	6	23
Gen Alpha	2013	2025	1	5

* If still alive today :)

Info Source

Again, this is a quick and "dirty" way to identify which generation someone is in based on their age. However, some experts would when it comes to Asians, there are other factors at play. We shall look at those factors in another Steemit post later.

MEET THE MILLENNIALS (STATS TALKING)

• Just 6 in 10 Millennials have jobs, and half of them are part-time.

• Have student debt of $1 trillion.

• 48% of employed colleges grads are working in jobs that don't require a four-year degree.

• The average member of this generation group carries a debt of $45k.

• 8 out of 10 have donated money, goods or services.

• 6 out of 10 are worries about the state of the world and feel a sense of responsibility to make a difference.

• 4 out of 10 have a tattoo.

• By 2025, they will account for 75% of the global workforce.

• 9 out of 10 believe that business success should be measured by more than just profit.

• 70% are friends with their managers and colleagues on Facebook.

• 15% of them are already managers

• 69% believe office attendance is unnecessary.

• 27% of millennials are already self-employed.

Statistic Source

8 TIPS TO COMMUNICATE BETTER WITH THEM

Ok, now that we're through with the definitions, let's get to the real reasons you click on this post.

#####1. Instant Reward

Yup, growing up in a fast-pace world means they can get things fast, as they say, at the snap of their fingers. So, instead of having a grand big goal on a yearly or tri-yearly basis, break the goals down into milestones. Communicate these "mini short term goals" to them on a regular basis, and entice them with it.

I'll be doing a separate Steemit post on the three main methods of motivation later as well, so watch out for it.

#####2. Cut the Corporate BS

Thanks to social media, Gen-Ys are more exposed, so they know what really is going on. Unlike their parents who get their news from TV and newspapers, Gen-Ys get their off Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and RSS feeds. Because of that, they will develop multiple versions of a story, and if you just try to push one version down their throat, they will have the tedency to rebel.

Research showed that if you make an effort to explain the situation to them, they will understand better. Remove the fluff, and keep it real.

#3. Involve Them and Ask Them for Their Ideas

Because of their exposure to the internet, Millenials are a bunch that have tons of ideas and loads of opinions floating around in their head, just waiting for the right opportunity to be brought out into the world.

They like to have company cultures that are inclusive in nature, where they can feel that they are part of the equation that made changes happen. In my experience working with them, between receiving a "no" for this suggestion and not having a chance to even speak up, they will go with the former, anytime.

Ask them questions like “Hey, I’m not guaranteeing that you ideas will be implemented, but I wanted to know your opinion on [subject]"

#4. Focus on Growth

Here's where they got some of us fooled. While many of us may think that Millennials are motivated by money, that's actually not true. Frankly, the percentage that cite "higher pay" as the reasons for leaving a job is more or less the same as any other generation, because all of us have an inner priority when it comes to wealth and money.

Personally, I’ve seen many of them taking on jobs with much lesser pay, just because it provides growth opportunities. As a matter of fact, some even quit a job that wasn't aligned with their internal values, even before securing a new placement!

Send them for training programs, gift them books, bring them out for learning lunches. Truth me, they will appreciate you for it.

#5. Regular Feedback

Because of their value in personal growth and career development, these young corporate warriors love being given feedback - in the right way - of course. Yelling, nagging and humiliating them aren’t going to work. Instead, try this simple method:

“Mark, I have been observing your work for a while, and I got to tell you, you’re doing really well. There are a few areas that I would like to give you some feedback on, so you can improve further. How's your schedule this afternoon or tomorrow morning for a quick chat?"

#6. It's not undermining if you ask them the Why question

Unlike the more senior employees in the company, it is okay to ask the Gen-Ys the Why question, provided it's in the right tone. You see, with other generations, sometimes they will get defensive when you question their purpose/objectives of doing something, or if it's done in a certain way.

However, with the Millennials, they see it as an opportunity for their views and voices to be heard. As a matter of fact, they may even appreciate it, and had been secretly wishing for a chance to speak up.

Asking the why question solidifies their purpose of doing something, and give both parties clarity in the process as well. It's a good opportunity for you to understand how their thought processes work, and what makes them unique.

#7. They Welcome Mentoring

We've established that they are growth-centric, and offering them coaching, guidance and mentoring is a great way for them to feel valued. Be it your time or wisdom, they appreciate the gesture you're investing to help them grow. While some researchers say this is due to their upbringing where their parents are usually not around, or coming from a single-child or smaller families, Gen-Ys sometimes look for a Big Brother or a father figure at the workplace.

#8. Leverage on Technology

While we fumble through the instruction manuals trying to figure out a new game, you'll probably notice kids already outscoring you in less than 15 minutes. Growing up with technology means they are quick to familiarise themselves with the interfaces, and probably can make faster connections between one app and another. Allow them the opportunity to play and work with technology because it is already in their blood, and when you do that, they often see it as a sense of trust and responsibility.

SO, IT'S YOUR TURN NOW

As you can see, communicating across generation is not difficult. The goldern rule still applied here:

Different Strokes for Different Folks

What about you? Any tips to communicate effective with Millennials? Do share your experience working with that - best practices, personal observations, success strategies.

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