12 Things You Should Never Say to Your Millennial Employees



Respecting the gap

Millennials bring fresh perspectives to the workplace. And more than any earlier generation, they have a clear sense of what they will (and won’t ) tolerate. If you want your best employees to stick around, avoid these phrases.


1.

Don't be too extreme with your sense of authority. Respectful interaction is important. That means engaging in conversation, and welcoming questions and feedback.



2.

Young workers thrive on encouragement and empowerment. Dismissing their ideas out of hand--instead of discussing the positive and negatives--will shut them down completely.


3.
 
Millennials require the freedom to engage, create, and innovate. In their view, tradition is less important than innovation.



4.
 
Every generation says this to the next--remember how lousy it made you feel to hear it? Don’t discount a Millennial’s efforts--or anyone’s.



5.
 
Open communication and solution-centered discussion are more effective than blame and comparisons. You can’t shame people into engagement.



6.
 
Blind obedience to authority doesn’t fly well with Millennials. They’re big-picture thinkers who want to understand how their work fits into the overall vision.



7.
 
Few things are more alienating than threats, especially coupled with the idea that people are interchangeable. Value the unique contributions of each individual.



8.
 
Millennials aren’t interested in traditional boundaries. If you have to withhold information, tell as much as you can about why—and do it nicely.



9.
 
Entrepreneurial thinkers don’t recognize binaries like "employed" or "unemployed." With an array of options, they aren’t likely to feel grateful for a dead-end or difficult job.



10.
 
No one enjoys hearing a whiner, but shutting down a feedback loop over someone’s tone doesn’t make sense. Instead, show them how to communicate effectively.



11.
 
Look beyond the limits of old roles to make room for creative engagement. Instead, tie into the enthusiasm and team spirit of younger employees.



Tamer El Sagheer

SkillInside


Millennials: as those born between 1983 and 2000.

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