Reman U
- Author: KJ Eichstaedt
- Subject Matter: Generational differences
- Issue: Transcending stereotypes
In his very first article, the Creative Composer is sharing a millennial insight – for millennials and non–millenials alike.
You’ve heard of them: millennials—the “kids” born in the vast spread between 1981 and 2000—always on their phones, always clamoring about how they’re special, how they’re going to change the world.
And now they’re in the workplace. You know them. Maybe you’re one of them. Maybe one of them works for you.
I must confess that I, too, am a millennial, and as I consider my role in the workplace, I reflect on one of my earliest work experiences out of college that taught me of millennial mishaps.
I was working in an entry-level role at a large corporation. They put the corporate in corporation, and I was the youngest person working there by probably 18 years. I was in a meeting. I’d been in these meetings before. They were never life and death scenarios: I usually just sat quietly and took notes. But in the corporate world, the term meeting is all sacred and all powerful like Sunday Mass.
Tasked with reporting and leading a segment, I did what I normally would before a large exam: I prepped like crazy, made sure my work was organized, straightforward, and looked presentable. I even made a note page with possible questions I might receive, and how I would answer them in a clear and concise manner. I was feeling good.
Heading into the meeting at the buzz of the 15-minute notification, imaginary lines were drawn, and I was the minority in a room of baby boomers. I set my things up front so that I could use the projector. My three superiors were huddled in a pack, and here I was, the fresh meat millennial, ready to give my presentation.
I began, “If you look to column C, you’ll notice that—”
“What do those ‘S’s mean?”
Un-phased at this interruption, I continue, “The ‘S’s are to let us know that the electronic file has been located—”
“But…we’re not looking for the electronic file, we’re looking to make sure it’s in compliance with RIM, right?”
“Yes of course, but the location of the electronic file is the first step to—”
“Shouldn’t there be multiple dates on the columns?”
“There are sometimes, depending on how many different version—”
“But we’re looking for all of them…right?”
And so it went, on and on: the meeting beating. I stood there and took it. What I thought was a well-prepared meeting presentation was continuously ripped to shreds for half an hour. There was little point in resisting; they were three, I was one. They had been with the company for years; I had been there only a few months. On that day, in that room, I was the Millennial Scapegoat. It happens. But it doesn’t have to.
Whether you’re the young employee or a veteran employer integrating millennials into your workforce, there are several approaches worth exploring to promote cross-generational harmony, but it all comes down to communication.
Set and meet expectations. What information is most important to you? To the task at hand? Do all parties know that?
Use phones wisely. Do you prefer to communicate by email, text, or telephone? Does your boss? Do you convey your tone effectively? Tailor your communications to each person, not necessarily what’s preferable to you.
Know when to communicate and when to put the phone away. For many people, young and old, cell phones are a permanent appendage—is that always appropriate, or helpful?
Respect everyone’s time by being punctual, preparing, and communicative about delays and deadlines to prevent miscommunications and missed expectations.
Looking back at this formative experience, I realize the way a D.O.B. can get in the way of how we are perceived doing our J.O.B. As I failed to meet, they failed to clarify their expectations of that presentation. What resulted was a low opinion of me and a bad experience of a millennial working with the older generations. These experiences create stereotypes, and sometimes, scapegoats.
No matter your age, how [effectively] you communicate matters, and being upfront about preferences, strengths, and weaknesses in style helps prevent miscommunications before they start.
