MANAGING 
MILLENNIALS
Presented by:
Millennial-proofing your workplace 
is one of the most effective 
ways to manage your 
multigenerational employees.
ACCORDING TO CHRISTIAN LANNG, CEO 
AND CO-FOUNDER OF TRADESHIFT, 
it’s an important 
component of helping 
your business to thrive. 
CLICK HERE to read the article by Lanng
“Millennial-proofing” 
essentially means creating a 
workplace that attracts 
Millennials, the generation of 
sharp and talented young 
people who are just beginning 
to enter the workforce. 
HIRE ME!
Just recruiting Millennials through 
cool perks isn’t enough, though. 
Training them to become 
your future managers 
and leaders is also key to 
engaging and retaining 
their talent.
Deloitte’s 2014 Global Human 
Capital Trends report shows that 
nearly two-thirds of 
companies aren’t confident 
that they are helping 
Millennial employees fully 
develop their potential.
This is where we come in. Attracting 
and retaining Millennials doesn’t 
need to be a mystery. 
In fact, there are a few 
simple strategies that can 
really kick-start your 
Millennial management.
First, it’s crucial to understand 
that Millennials don’t operate 
well under the “command and 
control” corporate philosophy 
of the fifties and sixties. 
While employees used to stick around through it all, 
unaware of or indifferent to better employment 
options elsewhere, this isn’t the case any longer.
The Millennial generation 
questions management practices, 
lives the company mission 
statement, and is more willing to 
leave if they disagree with policies. 
They’re “knowledge 
workers” who go where 
their hearts take them.
THAT’S WHY THE FIRST POINTER FOR 
MILLENNIAL-PROOFING IS CREATING 
AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE 
proactive questions about current 
company processes and commands 
is allowed and even encouraged.
ONCE YOU’VE GOT THAT DOWN, 
there are three more simple 
steps to take to Millennial-proof 
your workplace effectively.
1. BE TRANSPARENT 
Millennials like to be in the know. Educate them on your 
company mission and the steps you take to encourage 
leaders and employees alike to embody your values. Also, 
allow them to interact with senior leadership. Both 
management and Millennials will benefit, as you can 
scope out your brightest Millennial talent while they 
envision themselves in the driver’s seat.
2. BE MODERN 
A recent study done at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business 
School found that a third of Millennials prioritize 
“social-media freedom” above salary when considering an 
employment opportunity. To reflect that value, integrate 
social media into company marketing and networking 
processes. That way, you not only allow Millennials to 
interact on platforms they’re comfortable with, but you 
update your processes so that you’re ahead of the game.
3. BE OPEN 
Millennials like to know that they’re making a difference. 
This is hard for them to do if they only understand their 
own role, so teach them about the organization as a 
whole and brief them on upcoming objectives to help 
them see the big picture. Also, take their perspectives 
into account. Millennial employees value communication, 
flexibility, and mutual respect.
If these tips weren’t quite 
what you were looking for, 
perhaps reading some 
management advice straight 
from a Millennial may help. 
HERE’S A GREAT PLACE TO START FOR A 
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. 
CLICK HERE
So there it is, a good start 
to Millennial-proofing 
your workplace. 
For more ideas on employee training or 
leadership development programs, 
CLICK HERE
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
O.C. TANNER AND THE O.C. TANNER INSTITUTE 
O. C. Tanner helps the world inspire and appreciate great work. 
Through our innovative cloud-based software, tools, awards, 
education, and research, we provide thought leadership and strategic 
recognition solutions for thousands of clients globally. Designed to 
engage talent, increase performance, and drive corporate goals, our 
solutions create personalized recognition experiences delivered 
through a smart technology platform. 
The O.C. Tanner Institute regularly commissions research and provides 
a global forum for exchanging ideas about recognition, engagement, 
leadership, culture, human values, and sound business principles.

Managing Millennials

  • 1.
  • 2.
  • 3.
    Millennial-proofing your workplace is one of the most effective ways to manage your multigenerational employees.
  • 4.
    ACCORDING TO CHRISTIANLANNG, CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF TRADESHIFT, it’s an important component of helping your business to thrive. CLICK HERE to read the article by Lanng
  • 5.
    “Millennial-proofing” essentially meanscreating a workplace that attracts Millennials, the generation of sharp and talented young people who are just beginning to enter the workforce. HIRE ME!
  • 6.
    Just recruiting Millennialsthrough cool perks isn’t enough, though. Training them to become your future managers and leaders is also key to engaging and retaining their talent.
  • 7.
    Deloitte’s 2014 GlobalHuman Capital Trends report shows that nearly two-thirds of companies aren’t confident that they are helping Millennial employees fully develop their potential.
  • 8.
    This is wherewe come in. Attracting and retaining Millennials doesn’t need to be a mystery. In fact, there are a few simple strategies that can really kick-start your Millennial management.
  • 9.
    First, it’s crucialto understand that Millennials don’t operate well under the “command and control” corporate philosophy of the fifties and sixties. While employees used to stick around through it all, unaware of or indifferent to better employment options elsewhere, this isn’t the case any longer.
  • 10.
    The Millennial generation questions management practices, lives the company mission statement, and is more willing to leave if they disagree with policies. They’re “knowledge workers” who go where their hearts take them.
  • 11.
    THAT’S WHY THEFIRST POINTER FOR MILLENNIAL-PROOFING IS CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE proactive questions about current company processes and commands is allowed and even encouraged.
  • 12.
    ONCE YOU’VE GOTTHAT DOWN, there are three more simple steps to take to Millennial-proof your workplace effectively.
  • 13.
    1. BE TRANSPARENT Millennials like to be in the know. Educate them on your company mission and the steps you take to encourage leaders and employees alike to embody your values. Also, allow them to interact with senior leadership. Both management and Millennials will benefit, as you can scope out your brightest Millennial talent while they envision themselves in the driver’s seat.
  • 14.
    2. BE MODERN A recent study done at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School found that a third of Millennials prioritize “social-media freedom” above salary when considering an employment opportunity. To reflect that value, integrate social media into company marketing and networking processes. That way, you not only allow Millennials to interact on platforms they’re comfortable with, but you update your processes so that you’re ahead of the game.
  • 15.
    3. BE OPEN Millennials like to know that they’re making a difference. This is hard for them to do if they only understand their own role, so teach them about the organization as a whole and brief them on upcoming objectives to help them see the big picture. Also, take their perspectives into account. Millennial employees value communication, flexibility, and mutual respect.
  • 16.
    If these tipsweren’t quite what you were looking for, perhaps reading some management advice straight from a Millennial may help. HERE’S A GREAT PLACE TO START FOR A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. CLICK HERE
  • 17.
    So there itis, a good start to Millennial-proofing your workplace. For more ideas on employee training or leadership development programs, CLICK HERE
  • 18.
  • 19.
    O.C. TANNER ANDTHE O.C. TANNER INSTITUTE O. C. Tanner helps the world inspire and appreciate great work. Through our innovative cloud-based software, tools, awards, education, and research, we provide thought leadership and strategic recognition solutions for thousands of clients globally. Designed to engage talent, increase performance, and drive corporate goals, our solutions create personalized recognition experiences delivered through a smart technology platform. The O.C. Tanner Institute regularly commissions research and provides a global forum for exchanging ideas about recognition, engagement, leadership, culture, human values, and sound business principles.