It's Not about You

THE MILLENNIAL DELUSION As they embark on their promising business careers, millennials – generation Y, born between 1981 and 2000 – often experience a heartbreaking deception. In many ways they have much more to offer today’s companies than any of the previous generations. They are the most educated generation ever. Raised in the digital age, many millennials have magnificent data processing capabilities. They are able to find simple solutions for complex problems at mind-boggling speed. They are masters of online communication and understand how to touch consumers in their personal space. They have a genuine desire to make an impact on society and to grow fast in a successful career. Lured by an inspiring mission statement and wonderful development perspectives, Millennials accept a job, having sky high expectations. But as soon as the honeymoon is over, reality kicks in. They’re instructed to be at the office by 8 or 9 AM and work all day long. To sit still and produce analyses and reports for hours at a time. Their team leads provide them with task related instructions and check whether things are done. They’re expected to reach out to colleagues, build relationships and solve issues. Only once a year do they get feedback in the form of a performance appraisal, emphasizing the ‘areas for improvement.’ And as for impact, they feel they’re at the bottom of the pyramid with no opportunity to leave their mark on anything meaningful. Up to a third of millennials in the US are experiencing anxiety or depression to the point where it has significant impact on their work. And the situation isn’t much different in many other Western societies. What could be the cause of the cold shower many millennials experience once they enter the workforce? If we look at the way they were raised, we see the stark contrast with the top-down, financial result-driven systems most organizations have become. Millennials received lots of attention during their upbringing, as they were praised by their parents and beloved ones. Even if they decide to not have children of their own, they tend to put family values above corporate values. They view their manager as ‘primus inter pares’ – first among equals – and expect a lot of recognition and affirmation. Work-life balance and flexible hours have a high priority, which managers may mistake for a lack of commitment. They work hard and efficiently and get things done in a much faster pace than their older colleagues. Owning a house or a car is of lesser importance to them, which does not imply a lower interest in making money. Millennials like to spend it on other interests, such as events, travel and gadgets. There is so much more to life than work alone. On social media millennials have crafted an illusory image of their marvelously successful, mega eventful and unimaginably joyful lives. They are married to their smartphone, looking for constant entertainment and confirmation of their relevance in the groups they are part of. Their core strength of teamwork and inclusiveness has a hidden downside, as many millennials have a constant fear of being left out. The contrast of their superstar image on social media and the harsh reality of daily life may give rise to feelings of insecurity or even depression. Many millennials are not used to sitting down and having a heart to heart conversation about how they really feel inside. They often avoid conflict and vote with their feet by hopping to the next exciting opportunity to make a difference. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE We are facing a magnificent leadership challenge and I am counting on you. I am offering you a comprehensive pathway to a new leadership era that meets the demands of our confusing times. A self-evident approach that perfectly fits the zeitgeist of today’s digital, service-driven economy. A paradigm shift that builds on the premise that people themselves are in the best position to decide how to organize their work. Your employees perfectly know how to improve the processes and quality of their work to deliver an unrivaled customer experience. All you need to do is facilitate the process and be available to them. Recently, millennials have become the largest generation in the workforce. In the years to come, generation Z – born after the year 2000 – will complete their education and start their first job. Amazing kids with even more stunning digital processing skills than their millennial predecessors. Yet their upbringing and education have to an even lesser extent built their perseverance, social skills and self-esteem. And these traits will not be built by exercising more top down pressure and control. As a father of four fantastic children, I feel a deep and personal responsibility to shape work environments where their generation will flourish and be full of joy. The corona crisis has made it painfully clear that we cannot continue to sanctify the economy by sacrificing ecology. Our world today is facing major perils – pollution, global warming, rising sea levels, deforestation, extinction of species, floods, draughts, hurricanes, hunger, migration and terrorism, just to mention a few. These challenges are a direct or indirect result of our top-down, short-term focused, materialistic leadership exercised in companies, governments and other organizations worldwide. To curb the adverse trends, we need to re-invent ourselves and the way we lead others. As leaders, we need to learn how to become transformational coaches and mentors. To feel comfortable not to hide behind our status, our prerogatives and the dictates of the financial markets. To put it simple, we need to build bridges between our heads and our hearts. Leaders who are prepared to make this transformation I call Paradise Shapers. They learn how to balance their nearsighted thinking with deep intuitive feeling. They make a brave and deliberate transition from our current fear-based systems to sparkling communities of trust. Caring environments with a clear sense of direction, in which millennials and all other generations will thrive to provide the answers to the test of our time.