Millennials: 5 Ways to Rebrand Your Image at Work

Alright, millennials. Listen up. We have a tough stereotype being made about us in the workplace. Fair or unfair, there it is. You all know what it is. We come into work plugged into Spotify with our nonprescription glasses and pointy shoes ready to dominate the world. Great! “You go Glen CoCo!”

However, (when sticking to our established stereotypes) older generations by and large look at us and perceive our generation to be cut from a very different cloth than themselves. Thankfully for us, stereotypes function much like most things in life and there is always an exception to the preconceived rule of thumb. #Blessed

Below are FIVE ways to rebrand your image as a millennial and prove to others (#YourMom #YourBoss #THEWHOLEWORLD ) that you ARE the exception and you are NOT the traditional millennial. Here they are.

You’re welcome.

Amazing Tip #1: Lead Up

This is a term coined for employees who don’t wait for tasks to be given or assigned. The ability to manage up is a skill that will get you noticed in the workplace and promoted quickly. Supervisors don’t like hand-holding and a direct report that can anticipate needs and accomplish tasks without being asked is an extremely valuable commodity.

The essence of leading up is about the intentional thought and posture of working to make those who lead you more successful in their jobs. I once heard someone say, “May the quality of your work be the platform of your witness.” The work you do should speak of who you are. Be diligent. Don’t work with selfish motive. Allow your work to be for the benefit of the company and others. Seek to lead up in all that you do.

(Related: Leading Up, Being Led Up)

Crazy Tip #2: Over Communicate

Millennials are often viewed as babies in the workplace. It’s okay. Recognize your youth and move on. Part of recognizing your youth is understanding that you have to earn trust. One of the quickest ways to earn trust in the workplace is to over communicate with your supervisors and team members. Be deliberate in your communication. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and think through all the information needed so they may make a quick decision or response to you.

Make it easy for the other person to help you by anticipating questions ahead of time. Do your homework on the subject at hand. Your preparedness will always show through in your communication, written or verbal, and this will show that you value the recipient’s time. Time is the most valuable currency on earth and if you can learn not to waste it, you have proven yourself a more valuable employee already.

You-Might-Not-Like-This Tip #3: Put the Phone Away

I’m a millennial just like you and my smartphone that I’ve affectionately named, Brenda, is like an extra appendage for me. My phone is like this little task elf that has all the information I need 24/7 and it helps me do so much from ANYWHERE! It’s amazing and of course, you probably feel the same about your phone. One of the main complaints older generations have about millennials is the constant use of our smartphones. Fair enough… We don’t need to abandon our little elf buddy, Brenda, forever. We just need to know when it’s okay for her to be seen in public.

Nothing will get those millennial stereotypes painted on your back faster than the overuse of your phone. Stick to the rule of thumb and refrain from using your phone at work. Practice standing in line to buy groceries or ordering food without pulling out your phone right away. I’m preaching to the choir here because my phone is my immediate GO-TOOOOO when I’m bored. That’s not awful, but be mindful of the environment you’re in and who may be watching you. You could be sending an email and using Brenda to be completely productive, but your boss 9 times out of 10 will think you’re on Facebook or playing Candy Crush. Realistically, you might be using your phone for work related tasks. However, it’s always good form to be mindful of how others are perceiving you.

Challenger Tip #4: Own Your Mistakes

As mentioned above, part of being a stand-out millennial is being aware of your youth. Never let your youth hold you back, but don’t pretend to be more awesome or experienced than you are. That’s lame and annoying to everyone. Stop. Part of being young is making mistakes and learning from them. I hate messing up—especially in the workplace. I would literally rather walk a mile barefoot on legos than make a mistake at work. That’s completely impractical of me (not the lego part, the mistake part).

Mistakes are one of those beautiful human things that transcend space and time. I don’t mean our mistakes will last forever, I mean we are going to be making mistakes here and there for all of life. However, one thing that will separate you from the rest quickly is your ability to own your mess. Immature people cast blame, but those of a different breed don’t try to save face, they just work hard to correct the error or mistake regardless of who’s it is. Someone once said to me, “Fail fast and fail cheap.” It’s always a good thing for your errors not to cost the company zillions of dollars, but if you mess up, do so quickly. Don’t set up camp in your failure. Seek feedback from those around you, be intentional in finding the lesson, and move on. Learning from your mistakes is how wisdom is made.

Final Tip #5: Engage the People Around You

Social media has an interesting ability to condense our worlds to the apps in which they live. Don’t get me wrong I love Instagram and Snapchat as much as the next person. In fact, the use of social media is a very real part of my profession. However, our ability to contact almost anyone in our immediate circles with the touch of the button has made us less likely to strike up spontaneous conversation with the people around us.

We are quick to bury our heads into the safety of our apps in moments of social awkwardness or ambiguity. Branch out. Develop eyes to see the various faces around you. Engage someone and ask about their family or hobbies. Dale Carnegie said, “Get a person talking about themselves and they’ll listen for hours.” Engaging new people, in the office or on the street, is a sign of maturity and confidence. Encourage others to talk about their interests and listen to them sincerely. Who knows, the next person you interact with could be your CEO.

Originally published by Soderquist Leadership