Having Tough Conversations With Millennials

When was the last time you had to have a tough conversation with someone? How about with a Millennial?

Tough conversations are vital to an organization’s health and future. They are impossible to avoid and ultimately, when done well, can provide an incredible opportunity for growth and momentum for all of the parties involved. 

So let’s say you have a Millennial on your team who is struggling with their performance or isn’t pulling their weight. Or maybe their attitude has gotten out of alignment with your company’s values and vision. It may be time for a tough conversation. But how do you have a healthy and productive “tough conversation” with a Millennial? Here are three quick tips to help. 

3 Tips for Having a Tough Conversation with a Millennial:

1) Shoot it to them straight.

Contrary to popular belief, Millennials want the truth even if it hurts a little. They’ve been pegged as the generation who can’t take criticism, but the reality is, their craving for honest and authentic feedback has superseded the need to be protected. Millennials are ready to be taken seriously, and with that readiness comes a desire to cut out the fluff and get to the real stuff. If you have to have a tough conversation, don’t waist time qualifying and prefacing what you need to say. Say it with honesty, authenticity and respect and prepare for positive ground to be taken. 

2) Shoot it to them straight and often.

By now you’ve heard how important feedback is to Millennials. Yet we find many organizations still underestimate the importance of the how often feedback should be given. 

Think wind sprints not marathons. 

Millennials need to hear the unfiltered truth in a more concise yet constant delivery. Previous generations could go an entire year before hearing some of the tough things they needed to hear in their “Year-End-Review”. Millennials on the other hand are expecting some sort of feedback of an average of at least 4 times per week. So instead of waiting for one big and long tough conversation, consider having a few more concise and consistent tough conversations to accomplish what you’re after. 

3) Open the door for them to shoot it to you straight.

Now this may seem a little backwards. Yet we find when a tough conversation is had and the door for return feedback is open, there is a much more positive outcome. Millennials respect a leader who invites and appreciates their response and feedback after those tough conversation moments. There is a strong connection between a Millennial’s willingness to healthily receive criticism and the opportunity to give their thoughts and feedback. This obviously has to be done in an appropriate and respectful manner, but keeping the door open for a Millennial to shoot it to you straight is a powerful tool when you’re about to go into a tough conversation. 

The Takeaway:

· Millennials want the truth even if it hurts

· Millennials crave honest and authentic feedback 

· Millennials want feedback that is constant and concise (Sprint > Marathon)

· Millennials don’t need tough conversations to be prefaced or qualified beforehand

· Millennials respect leaders who open the door for return feedback

Special thanks to Chase Merrell for this article.