How to lead the millennial workforce

In a time of constant communication, emphasis has moved to continual feedback, with the older leadership style of annual reviews no longer aligning with the needs of today’s workforce. 

Cherrie Clark, Professor of the Practice of Management at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management, has emphasised this viewpoint, commenting that once-a-year feedback leaves newer generations feeling out in the cold.  

“When millennials are passionate, there’s no one better. They work hard. They work all hours of the day. But if they are not passionate, good luck with that,” said Cherrie. She also pointed out that millennials are used to receiving feedback every half hour, in the form of likes, retweets and follows, so to lead these younger generations your own coaching skills need to be attuned to this fact. 

Jared Freeman, CEO of the Alabama State Employees Credit Union and a Millennial himself, supported this idea in an interview with Forbes. 

“Millennials thrive on acknowledgement and affirmation that we are doing something that makes a difference,” he said. “Leaders have to do a better job at engaging millennials to feel like they’re making a difference.” 

The back and forth of business 

A frequent exchange of information can be empowering for this rapidly growing sector of the workforce and help them to understand how their role impacts the wider business. 

By engaging and committing your workforce to the company's overall vision on a regular basis, you set the stage for retention. In support of this, Gallup research found that millennials are more likely to stay with a workplace when they receive regular feedback. 

Gallup’s report, “How Millennials Want to Work and Live”, also emphasised the importance of this new leadership style. "Millennials don’t want bosses - they want coaches. The role of an old-style boss is command and control. Millennials care about having managers who can coach them, who value them as both people and employees, and who help them understand and build their strengths." 

To adapt to the demands of these younger workers, your leadership skills need to keep pace. If you are an executive or senior-level manager who is new to the world of coaching, an executive coach can help you to prioritise the right skills development and goals. 

Discounted coaching services from Leading Figures