Get the Recognition You Deserve: Manage Yourself

These days, everybody either wants to be the boss, or doesn’t want someone else to be the boss of them. There’s no doubt that managing talent in today’s workplace is a great challenge, especially when it comes to helping Millennials, or young new entrants to the job market, excel on the job.

I’ve been a manager for a long time, and I’ve seen the resistance to feedback, or the disappointment staff experience if they feel under-recognized for their hard work. Because I manage diverse, multigenerational teams of employees, I’ve been thinking about the best ways to help people show what they know to get the recognition they deserve.

It’s clear to me that what we’ve learned at Pathbrite about deep learning and showcasing of achievements in the educational realm is directly applicable to the workplace. Portfolio-based performance evaluation is the future.

It’s time to manage yourself.

One thing I’ve recently noticed is how Millennials look for different things from Generation X in the workplace. They want deeper feedback and assessment, with an eye toward holistic personal development and multiple options. They hold strong expectations that they will be immediately rewarded for their hard work. They work fast, and produce a lot, but it may not be as detailed as their Gen X and Boomer bosses want it.

As this new generation of employees enters the professional workforce, we need to put them in a position to get the feedback we know they want. Let’s stop complaining about Millennials as too high-maintenance to manage, and give them the tools they need to manage themselves.

At Pathbrite, our millions of users have taught us a lot. One development we have observed is the possibility for portfolio based performance evaluation for this generation, which means managers can give a lot of detailed feedback on how to improve the work output. We can put Millennials in a position to document personal and professional growth over time, as well as mange their own paths, in sync with the many studies about their workplace style and needs.

In fact, new workplace management tools are helping companies find success with the incredibly large pool of Millennials entering the workforce. If we know these new professionals are in need of recognition, support, and feedback on their productivity, let’s let them drive it. Documenting productivity and success can help the bottom line, and help managers see the details that can make a difference on the job.

What we are learning from companies like BetterWorks is that this generation runs high on aspiration and meaning, and they demand tools to ensure their maximum efficiency and reward. Pathbrite is right there with them, from academia to the workplace, giving Millennials what they need to show off their professional assets.

I’m a firm believer that deep portfolio engagement can put today’s workforce in control of their performance reviews, which are key to feeling like our work matters to our employers.

With portfolios, we are now in a position to give tangible evidence of our success. We are able to demonstrate alignment of our work to strategic missions and values. Employers can give us clarity about what success “looks like” at work. Portfolios give employees and managers a coherent and polished means of evaluating success.

 I’m convinced, now more than ever, that the best way to get a great performance review is to manage yourself, one portfolio of success at a time.