On Getting Those Millennials To Blend In Better July 20, 2009
Wearing torn jeans to optimize body art viewing and choosing to eat without the aid of a fork and knife is the stereotype many Boomers have of Millennial workers. Unfortunately, there are times when at least a little of that stereotype holds true. For those times when the newest members of the American workforce have trouble adapting, your executives may need a primer.
"Keeping the Millennials: Why Companies Are Losing Billions in Turnover to This Generation—And What to Do about It" by Dr. Joanne G. Sujansky, CSP, and Dr. Jan Ferri-Reed, the founder/CEO and president (respectively) of KEYGroup, attempts to teach businesses how to retain and nurture young talent, thereby avoiding turnover costs that range from 50 to 150 percent of an employee's salary.
The authors emphasize the importance of creating not only a "cool" work environment but an entire culture, where Millennials have fun and stay interested, where work isn't "work." Seasoned consultants and boomer mothers of Millennials, Sujansky and Ferri-Reed say they know first hand what it takes to stop turnover and cultivate your next generation of employees.
Here are some tips from the authors on helping Millennials assimilate into your company:
• Provide them with on-boarding by extending traditional one-day orientation programs to six-to-eight month experiences that include exposure to various parts of your organization.
• Provide them with advice on social etiquette in the office and outside the office with clients or within the community.
• Coach them on political savvy—what is appropriate to ask of whom and social mores that are acceptable such as meeting behavior and use of e-mail.
• Provide them with leadership training such as how to manage up and how to manage individuals with more age and experience.
• Coach them to control their impatience.
• Teach them active listening, especially since they always are wired to technology via devices such as iPods and laptops.
• Be clear about appropriate dress in different types of business events.
• Instruct them on the use and value of communication tools such as when to use voice mail, e-mail, and in-person contact.
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