You Will Be Shocked What Millenials Are Teaching CEO's

Millennials by definition are the “Net Generation”. They grew up in an electronic filled environment, with easy access to the web as well as social networks. They are the generation that has received the most attention from marketers, and are viewed as being tolerant to differences and changes. They were raised with the notion they must "follow their dreams" because they are “special”.  

Millennials elude confidence so much so that it can be perceived as entitlement or narcissism, but in reality they are optimistic. Love or hate, it by 2020, millennials will form 50% of the global workforce and they are forcing us to think outside of the standard work-book that has dictated the way that things have been done in the past.

Millennials have taught CEO's:

Loyalty: Because of their exposure to media, they developed brand loyalty. The same holds true when they are at work. When they are respected, they can grow at an organization (that offers flexibility) and they will stay in long term careers.

Speak Up: Twitter, Facebook, SnapChat, LinkedIN, Pintrest, Instagram...These sites are more than exposure. They use these sites as their outlets, and if they don't like something, they will speak out and up.

You Need To Remain Relevant: They love to be part of “the know”. They want to be part of the new and they help companies stay fresh and relevant.

Feedback And Flexibility: Millennials have egos, (slightly more than the average generation) so stroking those egos is an important element to improving their performance. And that is not a bad thing! All generations need to be told they are doing a good job, it costs nothing and helps keep the company morale up.

Technology Savvy: They love technology they know about the newest Apple before it's even in the orchard, so if you put them on a project to explore new technology for the company, they love it, and they will learn it.

Adapt To Change: Their world is constantly changing. Many have gone through divorce, merged families, relocations... They grew up in an environment with quick changing technologies, and family life issues, so unlike the CEO, they have learned how to adapt to change quickly.

Their Work Ethic Isn’t the typical 9-5: The generations of the past that had solid work ethic (which meant they arrived on time, did their work and left at 5 maybe 6pm), but the work ethic that millennials have put in place is "work until the job gets done". They arrive when they arrive and they leave when they leave, but they take their work with them wherever they go because their phone is always on them. Having a solid work ethic means they are there, are they are even more available then those 9-5 employees! 

Collaboration Is Leadership: Leadership used to be a hierarchy, but since millennials do not see black and white, leadership develops when there is collaboration on a project, and everyone feels they put in the effort. There are foundries but they are few and far between. The leadership is team work and this is what makes companies strive to be better.

Passion Sells: Millennials, unlike the generations before them, have their emotions on their sleeve. You know how they are feeling and when they are feeling. That is not a bad thing as when they are passionate, their passion sells. When they work for a company they love, you will know. Their passion is as contagious as their smile and the twinkle in their eye.