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
Vision 2030: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.in
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21
Success Sutras for CEOs: http://www.amazon.com/21-Success-Sutras-Ceos-Rao/dp/162865290X
Thanks for reading!
Kindly share your thoughts and
comments below, I’m sure someone out there will find your story useful.
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