Quiz: Knowing your millennials and how to coach them

As more Millennials enter the workforce, organisations are observing increased generational diversity. Within the next five years, it is expected that Millennials will make up one-half of the workforce. By comparison, those of Baby Boomers and Generation X will only represent only 16 percent of today’s workforce as many begin to retire.

Managers may find the greater diversity a struggle as they juggle the management of perhaps three or four generations at the same time. What might make baby boomers or Generation X happy might not appeal to Millennials – and vice versa. Think you know the trick to managing generations? Here’s a quiz for you to test your knowledge of managing Millennials.

Place a tick next to the statement that you find best describes you.

1. I give employees a “sense of purpose” and show that what they do will make the world or society a better place.

2. I frequently create engaging conversations, and view them as a working partner instead of a replaceable employee.

3. I focus on individual career development, rather than one-size-fits-all training.

4. I allow employee participation and mentor them in their professional development.
5. I promote purposeful questioning and explain processes to them.
6. I promote an autonomous, collaborative work environment.
7. I accommodate flexibility in how work gets done.
8. I allow employees to take own responsibility of their work
9. I engage employees on a frequent basis.
10. I am comfortable in knowing that they have a lot to learn from me, and I am not afraid to ask them what I do not know.
11. I make sure that they really know how to do what I am asking them to do.
12. I give them feedback on a daily basis.
13. I encourage work-life balance for all my employees by focusing on work-efficiency.
14. I embrace networked discussions as a suitable substitute for face-to-face meetings.

If you find that most 10 or more of these statements are applicable to you or your organisation, congratulations! You are millennial-savvy and understand them. As for the other points you missed, do consider them as you and your organisation need to adapt to a workplace that is dominated more by millennials.

Want to continue to learn more about managing multi-generational employees or want to receive the research we did on the Multi-Generation workforce? Drop us an email at info@digneconsult.com or info@digneconsult.com.sg!