Saturday 17 December 2016

Free Chapter ― Professor M.S.Rao’s Upcoming Book “Soft Leadership for Millennials: Leading Generational Differences in the Workplace Successfully”





Dear friends,

Here is the free chapter of my upcoming book tentatively titled, “Soft Leadership for Millennials: Leading Generational Differences in the Workplace Successfully.” You may share your thoughts about this book on social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

Introduction

“I do not write for this generation. I am writing for other ages. If this could read me, they would burn my books, the work of my whole life. On the other hand, the generation which interprets these writings will be an educated generation; they will understand me and say: 'Not all were asleep in the nighttime of our grandparents'.” ― Jose Rizal

There are several generational cohorts globally based on duration of their birth. Currently there are four generations active in the workplace. They are the Silent Generation (born mid-1920s to early 1940s); Baby Boomers (born early 1940s to early 1960s); Generation X (born early 1960s to early 1980s); Millennials who are also referred with different names including Generation Y (born early 1980s to early 2000s).

Globally the population of the millennials is growing rapidly. A study shows that by 2020, millennials will be approximately 50 percent of the U.S. workforce, and by 2030, 75 percent of the global workforce. It throws several challenges and opportunities for global organizations. The opportunities outnumber the challenges because millennials are responsible and committed to advance their professional careers and add value to society through nonprofits.  


Who are Millennials?

When you look at eminent people including Mark Zuckerberg, Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger, Malala Yousafzai, Taylor Carol, Nadir Vissanjy, Britney Spears, Amy Schumer, Nicki Minaj, Justin Timberlake, and Usain Bolt; they are all millennials.

Millennials are also known as Generation Me, Nexters, Baby Boom Echo Generation, Echo Boomers, Digital Natives and Generation Next. They are the demographic cohort following Generation X. They are ambitious, smart, brilliant and technologically savvy. They belong to a different school of thought unlike older generations. Their mindset is unique, tool set is rapid, and skill set is advanced. Precisely, they are a different, not indifferent to older generations. They bring unique ideas and insights to the table irrespective of the industry and area they work. They are often criticized as impatient and overambitious to make money. They are also criticized for being indifferent with the older generations in the workplace.  There are several factors influencing millennials globally including parenting, technology, impatience, and environment.


The Millennial Mindset

Millennials don’t have preconceived notions and perceptions because they view the world independently. They are better educated. They respect others’ cultures, and appreciate diversity.  They are better volunteers than older generations. They believe in quality, not quantity. They cannot be carried away by others blindly. They cannot be instigated by others easily. They want to be convinced first before arriving at solutions and conclusions.

Millennials are collaborative learners. They prefer soft copies to hard copies. They prefer smartphones to PCs. They don’t appreciate micromanagement. They want to experiment to learn lessons. 

They are constantly bombarded with technology and information. They find it difficult to cope up with it. Yet they enjoy volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. They get bored easily with their regular assignments and routine tasks. Hence, they take frequent career breaks to recharge themselves.  

Millennials are Mr. Cools. They don’t care when heavens fall. They think of crossing the bridge when it comes. They don’t put the cart before the horse. They want the horse come to the cart. They don’t compromise with less. They want more. Loyalty is skin-deep.  


Advantages for Millennials

Millennials don’t have pre-conceived mindset as they have not tasted failures.  They are virgin in their views and thoughts.  They are fresh in their approaches and attitudes.  Additionally, age excites them to dream, think and achieve big.  They are blessed with novel thoughts.  Even if they fail and fall age supports them as they are young, and can bounce back with energy and enthusiasm. They were born at the right time of history where the technology is growing rapidly throwing several opportunities open. For any success, timing is also equally important.  Hence, the Generation Y is also called Generation Why for their questioning, and is blessed with several strategic, technological and educational advantages to take on the challenges for leaving a mark behind for others to follow.

Millennials are blessed with intellectual curiosity and energy and enthusiasm.  Wisdom is not the prerogative of the experienced people.  Anyone can possess. Several Information Technology companies encourage young people for innovative ideas for several solutions.  With the changing times and technologies millennials are going to take on the world much faster and smarter way as the older generations are busy with their problems and pre-conceived mindsets.  The millennials are energetic, and dare to be different.  They want to be unique and go by the road less traveled.  They can see the invisible and they can see possible in impossible and, finally, they make things happen.


Mark Zuckerberg ― An International Millennial Icon

Mark Elliot Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook is an inspiration to millennials globally. He is many things to many people, and is the young century’s first millennial CEO.  Most millennials draw inspiration from this entrepreneurial icon to excel as entrepreneurs. Studies show that 40% of millennials and budding entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 30 state that Mark Zuckerberg is their business role model.

Mark Zuckerberg surprised the world with his innovative and creative internet technology and raised the hopes of billions of youth by dreaming and achieving big.  He busted traditional leadership myth that leadership is exclusively for experienced and elderly.  

What counts at the end of the day is passion.  It is the first and foremost thing that determines your success. Mark Zuckerberg was passionate about programming since childhood.  He was, in fact, a programming prodigy.  He was constantly working in internet and computer related activities since childhood.  His father arranged tuitions to enable the Mark to grow in his passionate domain of programming.

Mark Zuckerberg has become a symbol of hope, role model and inspiration for youth internationally.  He broke the traditional barriers and dreamt big and succeeded as the world’s youngest billionaire.  


Conclusion

Irrespective of the nations, regions, and cultures the mindset of the millennials remains more or less same. Hence, the organizations must do research to find out what touches and inspires them to connect with them to create compatibility in the workplace. When you know that you must work with all generations in the workplace, the best option is to understand, empathize and appreciate to achieve the desired outcomes.


“Be kind, don't judge, and have respect for others. If we can all do this, the world would be a better place. The point is to teach this to the next generation.” ― Jasmine Guinness


Note: Here is the link to purchase my bestselling book '21 Success Sutras for CEOs' https://lnkd.in/eqwk9uZ  



Life is great!

Professor M.S.Rao, India
Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants India
Recipient of 10th International Prestigious Sardar Patel Award―2015




Thanks for reading!

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1 comment:

  1. Happy New Year 2017!
    There is a huge demand for books on Millennials globally. I am sure your book will be a great success globally. I hope and wish that it will be New York Times bestselling book in 2017.

    ReplyDelete