3 biggest myths about Millennials in the Workplace
1) Millennials are self-absorbed, lazy, and narcissistic
This is a common generalization that people commonly apply to those younger than them. Would we not have this same opinion of the Boomers if we looked through the lens of the Greatest Generation? Gallivanting around in tie-dye, protesting, sitting in, tuning outs — it’s no wonder they were once viewed as a generation of hooligans. And yet every generation since then has been slapped with similar stereotypes.
2) Millennials lack organizational loyalty
We could look at this as a two-lane road where organizations’ loyalty to employees has diminished just as much as employees’ loyalty has. But a much stronger argument, backed up by years of examples, is that the younger generations have historically switched jobs more frequently. Older generations have typically found their niche by the time they start examining the employment habits of those younger than them, and time often creates the illusion of memories that are not quite as accurate as we hope.
3) Millennials are not interested in their work
The truth is that they may not be interested in their work, if it is boring. Millennials crave motivation, which often depends on the scope and impact of the work presented to them. Their lack of interest in unchallenging or unfulfilling work is on par with older generations — those seated lower within an organization often don’t have the same satisfaction in their day-to-day simply because they are making ripples, while those at the top are making tsunami-force waves.
Now that we’ve busted some of the myths, what are the differences between Millennials and the other generations on your teams, and how can you be a more effective manager?