The Millennial Scapegoat - Transmission Digest

The Millennial Scapegoat

In his very first article, the Creative Composer is sharing a millennial insight – for millennials and non–millenials alike.

The Millennial Scapegoat

Reman U

Author: KJ Eichstaedt
Subject Matter: Generational differences
Issue: Transcending stereotypes

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.

You May Also Like

2023 Reman Suppliers and Product Matrix listing

Each year, Transmission Digest provides a listing of suppliers of remanufactured transmissions, as well as a product matrix. Both of these can be found in the images below – click on each image for a closer look.

Each year, Transmission Digest provides a listing of suppliers of remanufactured transmissions, as well as a product matrix. Both of these can be found in the images below - click on each image for a closer look.

Shop organization: Tools in a tube

Every shop has a special location. Sometimes it’s a shelf, sometimes it’s a drawer. It’s where we keep all the “tools” that come in a tube. They’re usually community property, except for the occasional extra expensive items that reside in a manager’s office. Related Articles – Shop profile: DL Transmissions has leveraged a new location

Tools-in-a-tube-feature-6.23
Shop profile: DL Transmissions has leveraged a new location into significant success

Location, location, location. It’s commonly cited as a real estate motto, but really, it’s essential for any type of business. Whether it means being in close proximity to as many customers as possible or simply being in a visible or noticeable location, it can be a key to success for a transmission repair shop. After

Shop profile: Colorado Engine has built a name for itself focusing on the whole powertrain

Colorado Engine may have “engine” in the name, but transmissions are also a key component of the business for a shop that deals with the entire powertrain. Started in 1983 as a wholesale warehouse distributor for factory remanufactured engines and transmissions, in 2000 they opened an install center, according to owner George Anderson. Related Articles

A long journey to success at New Jersey’s Wholesale Transmissions

“We’ve been family-owned since 1985,” Mike Nader says of his shop, New Jersey’s Wholesale Transmissions. Related Articles – Going the extra mile: Proving your transmission repair suspicions – Diagnosing Ford 10R60, 10R80 and 10R140 series speed sensor issues – Jatco JF613E transmission quick reference material Mike’s father started off as a multi-shop Cottman Transmission franchisee in the

profile-feature-image-1400

Other Posts

Kitting keeps us profitable: Aftermarket kit suppliers listing 2023

The kitting of transmission parts has made profitable shop operation possible. When a kit with 100 parts is necessary, a distributor has already assembled all the important components into the kit and it is typically sitting on the shelf ready to be delivered. Kitting saves time and effort for both the shop and the supplying

California’s Rohnert Park Transmissions is a multi-generational success story

Fernando Gomez’s dad got into the business after being in the Army. “It was what he always wanted to do,” Fernando says. But that wasn’t the case for Fernando at first. Related Articles – Complete the 2024 transmission shop survey for a chance to win a gift card – Hidden problems: Three tales of electrical

Doing the little things right at Habby’s Transmissions

Habby’s Transmissions started as a radiator shop. When Warren Frie bought it in 1975 (keeping the name Habby’s from the previous owner), it took until the mid-1980s until he saw an opportunity in the transmission repair market, and transformed the business. Related Articles – Transtar talks expanding distribution for 2024 – Outgrowing the walls: The

family
12 transmission jack safety tips

A transmission jack is a must to remove, install or move transmissions, transfer cases and transaxles in a shop. These jacks save backs and time, but they are powerful multitask lifting systems so they must be operated correctly, with safety being the first priority. Related Articles – Going the extra mile: Price’s Garage builds on

techtip-1400