Born between 1980 and 2000, millennials have a reputation for being lazy and expecting a trophy for everything. However, workers from this generation can actually be good for your business. In fact, according to a 2014 survey from Elance-oDesk and Millennial Branding, 68 percent of HR managers said millennials possess skills that older generations don't have. If you learn how to manage these employees correctly, they can do great things for your company. Here are some pointers on how to guide millennials:
Allow Group Work
More than half of millennial employees admitted to making wiser business decisions when a group of people offered their ideas, according to an IBM study of millennial workers. That's why you should allow these team members to work in groups on a regular basis. In addition to learning valuable knowledge from their older colleagues, millennials will enjoy the camaraderie group work provides.
Give Clear Instructions
If you want your millennial employees to succeed, you can't be vague when providing instructions. It's important to be as clear and detailed as possible, according to Michael A. Olguin, president of Formula PR.
"Though they want responsibility and authority, they are uncomfortable without having some sort of framework for the task at hand," Olguin said in Inc. Magazine. "The best scenario is good instructions and a lot of flexibility in how you get there."
Provide Regular Feedback
Millennials may have a reputation for being know-it-alls, but they truly want to hear your feedback. Consider having a one-on-one meeting with each of your millennial employees at least once a month to let them know how they're doing. When you have to deliver negative feedback to millennials, make sure to offer helpful advice on how they can improve and encourage them to write down your tips on personalized notepads.
Praise Them for Doing Good Work
Since millennials are used to hearing praise for their hard work in school, it's essential to thank them when they've produced good work. If they don't receive any recognition for their efforts, they may think they're doing something wrong. When a millennial employee really impresses a client with a project, for example, tell the person how proud you are of him or her for going above and beyond to please the client.
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