Without a doubt, today’s workplace is not as oppressive as the ones we used to hear from say twenty years ago. The likes of Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly character, however, continue to run its gamut in some offices today leading to huge employee engagement and retention issues. With these come the heavy burden of balancing between becoming a tyrant and a pushover. While being a boss around a millennial workforce may seem like a challenging feat, business owners, managers and team leaders actually have all the power to ensure positive results on their hands.
Every “boss” has the power to be able to gain the trust and respect of his or her team. When thinking of running a company populated mostly by millennials, the following points must be carefully observed.
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Be a role model. Lead by example. Accountability is definitely the main thrust in a business. When you demonstrate what’s expected of you, those who work for you will also deliver what’s expected of them. If you come to work late or drunk or untidy, this will deliver a sense of negligence or immaturity which can discourage those working under you. As the company’s anointed leader, it is you who is at the forefront of the business, who ultimately sets the tone for everyone therein.
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Be appreciative of good work yet, be honest and open in criticizing as well. Applaud good work and offer incentive if you may. A praise given when deserved is often appreciated by millennials. When something is not adding up, do make sure that the person or persons involved know about it, too. However, it is important that you carefully do this in a constructive manner.
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Always be present but not in a nosy way. Be explicit in your rules and regulations. However, it is important to be accessible for suggestions and guidance to encourage the essence of cooperation and camaraderie in the office. Cohesiveness and cooperation are two important aspects that help breed mutual trust and respect. Just make sure that your employees know the boundaries between work and play. Keep in mind also that it is annoying when you become too nosy on your employees’ tasks.
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Cultivate an environment of growth and collaboration. Success to millennials is all about teamwork. While employee retention is vital in your business, do so by giving them room to grow and explore. Try to improve their skills and knowledge by fostering continued education or training. This will not only make them more competent, this will also add to their confidence level delivering productivity and positive returns to the business.
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Inject a little humor in the workplace. Working your millennial workforce to the bone without giving them some fun will eventually turn the whole environment catatonic. You won’t be seen as a pushover for treating them to dinner every now and then.
Indeed, there lies a huge challenge to a boss handling a millennial workforce. Finding a middle ground, however, must be incessantly sought. This will not only encourage mutual respect and trust, it will also help employees become more creative, engaged, and results-driven.
