Customer Service Tip #36: 6 Principles of Millennial Management

Many of us in SASS have undergraduate students working in our offices in all different capacities. Because the Millenial generation are relatively new on college campuses nationwide, more seasoned generations have difficulty relating to their expectations. Here is some insight to working with them:

1. You be the leader. This generation has grown up with structure and supervision, with parents who were role models. The "You be the parent" TV commercials are right on. Millennials are looking for leaders with honesty and integrity. It's not that they don't want to be leaders themselves, they'd just like some great role models first.

2. Challenge me. Millennials want learning opportunities. They want to be assigned to projects they can learn from. A recent Randstad employee survey found that "trying new things" was the most popular item. They're looking for growth, development, a career path. 

3. Let me work with friends. Millennials say they want to work with people they click with. They like being friends with coworkers. Employers who provide for the social aspects of work will find those efforts well rewarded by this newest cohort. Some companies are even interviewing and hiring groups of friends.

4. Let's have fun. A little humor, a bit of silliness, even a little irreverence will make your work environment more attractive.

5. Respect me. "Treat our ideas respectfully," they ask, "even though we haven't been around a long time."

6. Be flexible. The busiest generation ever isn't going to give up its activities just because of jobs. A rigid schedule is a sure-fire way to lose your Millennial employees.

Retrieved September 30, 2006 from http://www.generationsatwork.com/articles/millenials.

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