What is the problem with Millennials in the workplace? You.

One of the most common issues I am asked to discuss when talking with clients is how to work with Millennials. The appearance of a generation gap is stark, and the descriptions of many younger employees are not flattering: Entitled, lazy, unmotivated, disconnected, and the list goes on.

My answer is always the same. The answer is leadership, plain and simple.

The negative attributes of millennials are the same as every generation, as are the positive attributes. Remember, there are millennials right now fighting terrorists in combat, leading billion-dollar companies, and succeeding in every way imaginable. The issue isn’t about a generation, society, social media, or any other external factor. It’s about your ability to lead.

The issue isn’t about a generation, society, social media, or any other external factor. It’s about your ability to lead.

Like everything with Extreme Ownership, this is about you. Don’t look for reasons why someone else is wrong. Look for ways you can lead better.

If you accept that the problem is someone or something else, then you are accepting failure. If you have an unmotivated employee of any age, develop your relationship and find out what motivates them. Do you have a team member who is disconnected? Give them ownership of a problem and bring them into the fold. If someone acts entitled, give them a task and a team so that they can learn responsibility.

At Echelon Front Front, we have employees from across different generations - and some of our hardest workers are Millennials. I work with a team of three phenomenal women, all younger than me, and they have all stepped up beyond their inital roles and now leading others too.

Leading people is never easy, but you can learn how to navigate these workplace challenges by gaining influence and giving them opportunity. Millennials are people, just like you and me. What they need more than anything is leadership.