PeopleFirm Postcard: Are Millennials a New Breed of Human? Tips for Developing Emerging Leaders

© 2017 PeopleFirm LLC All Rights Reserved www.peoplefirm.com
well, it may take a little
coaching on
transformational change
leadership.
ARE MILLENNIALS
A NEW BREED OF
HUMAN?
*VUCA: Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous
Upscaling the organization for the VUCA* world.
4 Big Ideas to Ready your Organization and Optimize the
Potential of your Emerging Leaders

Truth is, most of us love to
stereotype the generations
Entitled
Purpose-driven
Digital addicts
2
Out of touch
Inflexible
Workaholics
Independent
Cynics
Poor team players
millennials gen x boomers

…and we hear about
it all the time.

And yes, the workforce is
shifting…
4
By 2020,
Millennials will make
up approximately
50% of the U.S.
workforce.
Source: Myths, exaggerations and uncomfortable truths (IBM)
By 2030, 75% percent of
the global workforce.

© 2017 PeopleFirm LLC All Rights Reserved
but are we really facing a
new breed of human …
and a future leadership
crisis?

NO!
(Let’s look at what sciences tells us about humans
and the differences across generations.)

workforce engagement
drivers are the same for all
meaningful
work
workloadcareer
development
sufficient
financial reward
Source:: What Do Millennials Really Want at Work? The Same Things the Rest of Us Do (Harvard Business Review)

we all ask the same
questions when deciding
whether to join or stay at
an organization
 Is this a winning organization I can be proud of?
 Can I maximize my performance on the job?
 Are people treated well economically and interpersonally?
 Is the work itself fulfilling and enjoyable?
Source:: The Human Capital Edge, Kay & Pfau, 2002

we all want the same things
from our employer
2015 National study commissioned by CNBC
environmental
practices
work-life balanceprofitability
reputation for hiring
the best and brightest ethics diversity

OK, that doesn’t mean
there aren't a few
differences too…

because Millennials did grow
up in a different world
a digital
world
a globally connected
world
a diverse workforce
world

and let’s not
forget, the
realities of
today’s world
of work has
changed for
everyone!

So if as humans we’re
not that different, how
do we ready our
organizations for the
real changes we are
experiencing?

BIG IDEA #1
adapt our environments so our people
can thrive in today’s VUCA world
 Authentic: (think social media)! Your people want to be themselves, and they want their
company to be real too. This means corporate transparency.
 Agile: You need to be agile to thrive in the face of change. Celebrate change-capable behaviors,
such as proactively seeking to understand new responsibilities.
 Innovative: Celebrate creativity, innovation, and moving ideas quickly through your
organization.
 Inclusive: Embrace all people and all work styles. Celebrate differences – and if you’re going to
be intolerant of anything, be intolerant of bias!
 Meaningful: Get people excited about the big, heart-thumping, greater goal of your
organization. Connecting people with your purpose is the bedrock of a culture that rocks.
 Safe: A VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, & Ambiguity) world means pressure. You can
help. Provide employees with a safe and calm environment. Focus on good will and good
intentions.

Autonomy
Mastery
Purpose
Source: Daniel Pink, Drive
BIG IDEA #2
recognize that for millennials,
(like everyone else) three factors matter
lead to better performance and
personal satisfaction

BIG IDEA #3
ensure our employees have a strong
voice in their careers and jobs
Employees being
aligned with their job
interest is the single
most important driver of
commitment
Source: Executive Conference Board: Confronting Six Enemies of Post-Recession Performance 2010 Study

1) There’s a widely held belief that Millennials are different – a new breed of
human
2) But, when it comes to work, they’re really not different from prior generations
3) However they did grow up in a changed and digital world
4) To ready our organizations for the true realities of what’s changed…
adapt our environments
focus on what matters (autonomy, mastery, and purpose)
engage employees in defining their jobs and careers
build leaders using time-tested principles
5) Like what you’ve read? Share it! (see that little arrow in the left corner?)
Got it? Let’s review.
Your people will thank you!

your people = your success.
© 2017 PeopleFirm LLC All Rights Reserved | www.peoplefirm.com
need help putting these ideas into action?
let’s talk
PeopleFirm is a consulting firm dedicated to achieving that ultimate win-win:
inspired people driving inspiring performance. We focus on effective tools,
measurable, outcomes, real results, and getting your people out of their seats
and engaged in your company’s growth.
info@peoplefirm.com (206) 462-6462

PeopleFirm Postcard: Are Millennials a New Breed of Human? Tips for Developing Emerging Leaders

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to PeopleFirm Postcard: Are Millennials a New Breed of Human? Tips for Developing Emerging Leaders

Similar to PeopleFirm Postcard: Are Millennials a New Breed of Human? Tips for Developing Emerging Leaders (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

PeopleFirm Postcard: Are Millennials a New Breed of Human? Tips for Developing Emerging Leaders