Millennials are the ultimate go-getters. When they put their head unto something, they will pursue it to the best of their abilities. Which is remarkable but only when you are not within their path. As a business owner, you may find it increasingly difficult to keep this talented lot around. Studies have often indicated that millennials are always on a job-hopping spree in their mindset of progressive growth.
So how does one rein millennials and inspire them to be part of the company growth? How will you immerse them into the business culture you take years to build?
Sound Feedback
The answer could very well be on how you motivate your own workforce. Virtually all employees, young or old alike, want a sense of accomplishment in what they do. No matter how fantastic or mundane, millennials want to be praised for their efforts. This means positive feedback is one of the driving forces keeping employees happy and motivated—and satisfied to stay.
While focusing on your employees’ strength and giving praise to fully motivate them, the task of delivering such is not a walk in the park. Millennials are not stupid to see pretensions and false praises. These individuals are not as naïve as you think. Amid their inexperience or lack thereof, they look at the world on a different lens. However, there are certain ways to ensure that your positive feedback be heeded.
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Be sincere in your praises. People easily see such goodness when you do things in earnest. Find goodness in people and let them know about it. Say your praise in such a way that it touches their soul.
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Teach yourself to see the best in people. It is easy to pick on their mistakes and shortcomings but why does praising good acts be hard? Train your mind to look for the good in everyone. See how much effort they put into a difficult endeavor or how they decide to stay amid opportunities outside.
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Tap on their potential. Young people, in their desire to attain greatness at such fast speed, often fail to pause and see what they are truly made of. They often hop from one industry to another without even knowing that they’re already sitting on a gold mine just because they think so low about themselves.
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Train them to the best of their abilities. Many millennials tend to feel lost in a labyrinth of underachievement. Allow them to grow by engaging them in training that will expand their growth and open more opportunities for them. It is not your role to put everyone on a leash. As an employer, keeping them tied up may seem to work well at first but over the months and years, such an arrangement will choke them.
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Educate them. Let them learn the ropes about doing business on their own. Be a transformational leader by show them the way to greatness, that when they look back, they will see you with the eyes of gratitude.
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Be specific. Vagueness often results in confusion and misconceptions. When you exactly tell an employee what endears you to his or her efforts, you are not just giving good feedback. It will also give your employees the understanding that you are paying attention to their plight. This makes them feel more valuable.
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Be compassionate. Some people are just slower than others. You cannot pump them to keep up but you can train them to do better. Let them see the greatness within while curving their weakness so it will work to their advantage.
Of course, as much as sincere praises will keep your millennial workforce happy and satisfied, it is also essential to point out outright irregularities and negativities. Recurring mistakes and blind spots, for instance, must be called out. Not necessarily to disappoint but more on giving them a chance to improve. When you criticize, do it constructively to ensure growth. In all things else, be kind. Often, people stay because they feel cherished and nurtured.