Generations: When I Say Millennial, You Say…

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Jul 19, 2010

When I Say Millennial, You Say…

By Debra Fiterman

Debra Fiterman is a speaker, researcher, writer, and consultant at BridgeWorks. She often writes from the perspective of Millennials—her generation of plugged-in and tech-savvy 20–somethings.

Who is ready for a little game of word association? Here we go . . .

When I say “Millennial generation,” what is the first word that pops into your mind?

Chances are there is a group of readers who thought of something about being entitled or spoiled. There is probably another bunch of you that thought “my kids.”

But I am willing to bet that the biggest group out there thought of a word having to do with technology. Whether it was the Internet, Facebook, cell phones, iPods, iPads, iPhones—you get the picture. It’s hard to mention the Millennials without thinking about how ultra-techy this new generation really is.

To be clear, the Millennials are not the only tech-savvy generation in the workplace. Every generation from Traditionalists on down has embraced the technological revolution to at least some extent. However, there is a distinct difference between my generation, the Millennials, and the others. While other generations have been merging onto the information super highway, the Millennials were born in the fast lane.

Of course, there are some very obvious side effects that will happen when these 76 million Millennials start pouring into workplaces. But what are some of the impacts you might not be thinking of?

1. Built-in tech trainers:
This is a generation that has been called on as technology consultants since before they entered junior high. Whether it was fixing grandma’s high-speed Internet or helping dad pick out his new video camera, Millennials have been asked to help. Most Millennials are extremely patient when it comes to helping other people understand technology. And on top of that, Millennials want to share their knowledge! Every generation likes to feel like experts at something and as entry-level employees, letting Millennials lead in this area can be a great retention strategy.

2. Unique tech-etiquette perspective:
Millennials can definitely commit some pretty serious technology faux pas. We are often accused of texting at inappropriate times or using slang in formal business e-mails. However, Millennials aren’t the only ones who need training. We find that the older generations are equally as likely to offend someone with an e-mail written in all caps or a terse response from their Blackberries. It is important to remember that every generation has a unique vantage point when it comes to tech-etiquette. Taking the time to mentor both up and down the ladder will be critical when it comes to avoiding technology blunders.

3. A generation that is comfortable with change . . . and then some:
As most leaders know, managing through change can be a huge challenge. Keeping morale up and productivity high during times of turbulence is a tough task. Good news: Millennials are ready. Keep in mind that this is the generation who grew up during a time of extreme rapid change. Every generation has experienced change during their formative years but none at this supersonic pace. This is a generation who is not only unafraid of change but embraces it at every chance. And what workplace couldn’t benefit from that?

Posted at 04:23 PM in Millennials, Web/Tech | Permalink

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