Millennials Matter E-Book

Danita Bye

• Herausgeber: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Seitenzahl: 288

Beschreibung

Successful business leaders see their experienced leaders retiring soon. Panic strikes when they see how few millennials have the leadership and sale acumen to fuel their business growth or transition. Danita Bye is a business leader who loves millennials and believes they could be the new "greatest generation." Join her passionate journey and discover how to help young leaders get leadership traction. Learn how to: - Identify and tackle real millennial challenges. - Tap into millennial strengths and talents. - Develop capable next-gen leaders of character. - Build a bench of engaged and focused young team players. - Leverage millennials' skills and grow your business - Set the stage for your business transition. - Leave a legacy of wisdom and strength.Millennials Matter will provide you with coaching inspiration and practical action steps to harness the strengths of your millennial leaders so they become one of your biggest business assets and a testimony to your leadership legacy.

Leseprobe

Millenials Matter is packed with tips for connecting with, mentoring, and developing the leaders of the future. I know from experience that for seasoned leaders, there is no greater joy than mentoring a first-time manager. Why? Because mentor and mentee learn so much from each other in the process! Danita Bye has written a fabulous guidebook for leaders in every generation. Read it and make a connection!

—KEN BLANCHARD, coauthor of The New One Minute Manager® and Lead Like Jesus Revisited

Timely and on point, Millennials Matter is filled with truths you and your team can act on to make a difference in your future and our future. Inspiring, relevant, and actionable, this book is a toolbox to build trust and influence, and impact our current and future leaders. We need to do this now!

—DAVID HORSAGER, Trust Edge Leadership Institute

Danita Bye’s passion to see the next generation realize their God-given potential comes through in Millennials Matter. This timely and engaging book equips leaders to better understand and effectively invest in millennials. It should be on the reading list of every CEO, supervisor, teacher, pastor, coach, counselor, parent, and more.

—HAL DONALDSON, President, Convoy of Hope; Author, Your Next 24 Hours: One Day of Kindness Can Change Everything

Millennials Matter is a must read for anyone interested in preparing new leaders to meet the challenges of the future. Danita Bye leads us through the steps to help develop values-based differentia in emerging adults and gives us the tools to discover the potential in others to lead. Reading this book will compel you to evaluate your responsibility to transfer your leadership attributes to those who follow.

—ED SCHAFER, Governor of North Dakota (1992–2000); US Secretary of Agriculture (2008)

The future favors those leaders who effectively engage upcoming generations. Leaders leverage change for strategic advantage! Millennial Matters is a timely, provocative resource to help any manager play offense in this high potential generational transition. God has seeded this generation with eternal potential. Will you unleash it?

—MIKE SHARROW, President & CEO, The C12 Group, LLC

In Millennials Matter, Danita Bye has identified the importance of equipping the millennial generation to succeed owners transitioning out of their businesses. In this historically largest ever transfer of generational wealth, Danita’s focus is to mentor, coach, and mobilize the millennial generation to lead companies to even greater levels, while at the same time preserving the legacy of the business owner.

—ROB GALES, Managing Director, VERCOR

Millennials Matter is a practical culmination of Danita Bye’s life and leadership journey both professionally and personally as she has purposed to be a student of millennials stepping into the workforce as young professionals. You’ll enjoy Danita’s well written and researched book as a practical tool for navigating the perils of successfully onboarding millennials into your enterprise.

—PETE HENSCHEL, Cru, National Field Director; Executive Director, Executive and Entrepreneurial Leadership Forum; Executive Director, Global Leadership Forum

While reading Danita’s book, I found myself frequently introspecting and reminiscing. How am I a typical millennial? How can I overcome my millennial weaknesses? How can I leverage my millennial strengths? Millennial Matters helped me realize obvious mistakes I had made while managing millennials and bolstered my ability to lead my peers and more importantly, myself.

—COOPER BUSS, millennial Entrepreneur, Life Acoustics; Director of Customer Success-Digital Marketing ResortsAndLodges.com

Millennials Matter is a must read for anyone wanting to unlock the next talent rich generation for organization and business success. Danita is totally dialed into this generation’s brilliance and unique aptitudes while possessing keen insight into what to do with their seeming collective shortcomings. Her clear and straightforward strategies will rescue you from old patterns and jumpstart you into a fresh, relevant model yielding unparalleled outcomes. Clear your schedule today to read Millennials Matter, and you will change lives. Yours may be one of them.

—KAREN A. BERG-JOHNSON, Director of Leadership Giving, PULSE, a millennial-engaged Christian nonprofit

The why is never-changing. Leadership is fluid. Just about the time leaders are in that sweet spot where wisdom meets humble confidence, it’s time to begin passing the torch. Effectively making this transition has long-term ramifications. The how has to be ever-changing too. The twenty-first century’s new wave of leaders, millennials, require an entirely new understanding by leaders that started in the twentieth century. Leaders involved with CBMC have a desire to mentor and disciple millennials but aren’t exactly sure how. Danita provides a powerful toolkit to guide leaders who desire to transition well and bear fruit that lasts.

—ALAN SMITH, Area Executive Director, CBMC Northland

Millennial Matters is a must read on the up-and-coming, new world talent. This book’s counsel can maximize your company, mobilize your leaders, and realize your legacy! Danita Bye’s insightful research and passion to help equip and coach business leaders on next-gen character based leaders is stunningly captured in Millennial Matters!

—DEBORAH YUNGNER, CEO-Visioneer, ERBUS Inc.; Vice President, BizDev; CoCreateX; recipient of the Woman Inventor of the Year, USA

Millennials Matter is a great resource to help implement the three recommendations I give to CPAs developing millennials: thanking them once a week for something specific they have done; getting them the resources they need from their perspective (i.e., don’t micro-manage them); and giving them a chance to shine.

—MICHAEL GREGORY, Chief Manager, Michael Gregory Consulting, LLC; Author, Peaceful Resolutions and The Servant Manager

As an educator in both secondary and higher education and now a university administrator, Millennials Matter reinforces my belief that virtue is the answer for a world crying for meaning, but more importantly, gives guidance on how to lead what could be the greatest generation yet. Thank you, Danita, for this pay-it-forward insight!

—JEROME J. RICHTER, Vice President for Public Affairs, University of Mary

Danita Bye is a great listener. There is no possible way to solve the puzzle of millennials without understanding how they think, and that only comes through listening. This book is your road map for listening to and building them into great leaders.

—SCOTT HENNEN, Host, What’s On Your Mind radio show; Partner, Flag Family Media

Danita Bye’s thorough understanding of the critical business issue regarding the development of millennials and her unique ability to address this topic is critical to your future success. Creating awareness, mobilizing efforts, and mapping out the right solution are required if you are to successfully overcome potential roadblocks. A “coach and mentor” for your millennials, I would highly recommend you reach out to Danita. Your legacy will be in good hands.

—PAUL BALUS, Senior Director of Global Sales and Corporate Training, Skyline Displays

BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC

Racine, Wisconsin, USA

BroadStreetPublishing.com

Millennials Matter:

Proven Strategies for Building Your Next-Gen Leaders

Copyright © 2017 Danita Bye

ISBN-13: 978-1-4245-5558-1 (hardcover)

ISBN-13: 978-1-4245-5559-8 (e-book)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188, USA. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2000; 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked GNT are from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version, Second Edition, Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

Stock or custom editions of BroadStreet Publishing titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, ministry, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail [email protected].

Cover design by Chris Garborg at garborgdesign.com

Interior design and typeset by Katherine Lloyd at theDESKonline.com

Printed in China

17 18 19 20 21 5 4 3 2 1

For my parents, Fred and Joyce Evans, for stewarding their gifts of encouragement and hospitality.

Contents

Shifting Gears

Why Millennials Matter

Section 1 - Strengthen Character

Part 1: Cultivate a Courageous Core

2

A Courageous Character Core and Leadership

3

Determination: One Step Closer to Character

4

Awareness: The Key to Activate Understanding

5

Knowledge: Deep Knowing Boosts Moral Fiber

6

Optimism: An Activating Force

7

Trustworthiness: Leading with Compelling Integrity

8

Accountability: Answerability Advances Courage

Part 2: Practice Proactive Self-Care

9

Proactive Self-Care and Leadership

10

Break the Chains of Negative Thinking

11

Deal with Your Dark Side

12

Set Goals to Fuel Energy

13

Establish a Rest Rhythm

Section 2 - Lead with Confidence

Part 1: Model an Impact Mind-set

14

The Impact Mind-set and Leadership

15

Live with a High Regard for Your Work

16

Prioritize Now to Impact the Future

17

Know What Jazzes You

Part 2: Strengthen Your Sisu Spirit

18

The Sisu Spirit and Leadership

19

Develop a Disciplined Action Mind-set

20

Use the Catalytic Question

21

Be the Domino Difference

Section 3 - Engage with Collaboration

Part 1: Respect Relationship Wiring

22

Relationship Wiring and Leadership

23

Respect Every Person You Meet

24

Practice the Power of Questions

25

Listen Deeply to Other People

26

Dealing with Difficult Conversations

Part 2: Inspire the Investment Effect

27

The Investment Effect and Leadership

28

Share Your Wealth

29

Find the Strengths in Others

30

Love Is the Ultimate Measure

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Notes

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Shifting Gears

Seemingly unrelated disconnected events happen over the course of life. Then one day you wake up and realize, All those events were leading up to now. It’s the moment when God merges your years of talents, skills, experiences, and wisdom for a greater purpose.

A few years ago, I received an invitation to give the commencement speech for my alma mater, the University of Sioux Falls, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. That was deeply meaningful and honoring, especially since the previous two speakers had been the governor of South Dakota and a senator from the state. I was excited and nervous.

My three children fell within the definition of millennial, but I wasn’t sure I was in touch with their world. After all, my expertise was with business owners—collaborating with them to build high-performance sales teams that consistently and predictably grow revenues, raise margins, and take market share. I didn’t have experience inspiring college students to be world changers, and these young people were stepping into the most severe global turmoil any generation has ever known. I set aside every nonessential task at work in order to pour myself into the message I would soon deliver to this graduating class of college students.

The commencement speech went even better than I’d imagined. It was an amazing experience. Long afterward, students and parents told me that my message had resonated with them, and I was pleased it had. When I returned home, I checked that item off my to-do list. Then I started tackling the next priority on my one-page strategic plan, relieved to be able to return to my sales consulting business.

This is often true of seasoned business leaders, isn’t it? We volunteer to do an emerging-entrepreneur event or we go out to coffee with a friend’s son who needs career advice, and we count it as “doing our part” to help the next generation. Then we resume our usual mode of leading our teams or running our businesses.

However, surprising events began to unfold for me. Just a few months after the commencement speech, Dr. Mark Benedetto, then president of the University of Sioux Falls, telephoned. My husband and I were living in Minneapolis at the time, and Mark said, “Danita, I’m going to be in Minneapolis. I would love to have dinner with you and see if you’re interested in being on the board of trustees.”

My more cynical self? It thought, Oh, I know how these conversations go. We’ll have a delicious dinner while we discuss general topics. Then we’ll get to the dividing line in the conversation, that point at which he’ll ask me, “How much money would you like to donate to the university?” And if the amount is big enough, then I’ll get invited onto the board of trustees.

But Mark’s invitation came at an intriguing time. I had a growing interest in the impact higher education might have in nurturing young adults to be more prepared when they enter the workforce. What might higher education do to close the gap that business leaders were identifying in character, emotional maturity, interpersonal skills, and communication competences in our next generation of leaders?

So I decided to go and have the conversation.

Mark and I enjoyed a great dinner. Eventually we got to the dividing line, when he would start talking about money. Surprisingly, the conversation went in a different direction. He revealed that he was in a transition time of his presidency, that he was starting to consider leaders he might encourage to apply for the position when he retired. And my name was one of those that came to mind.

I was stunned. My name?

He talked a little more about his vision, then he said, “Danita, you’re brilliant [his word, not mine] at encouraging the students to consider their impact in the world, at challenging them to be world changers, and at inspiring them to integrate their faith into everything they do. Plus, you interacted so well with the parents, the faculty, and all the stakeholders. You would be perfect!”

I came up with an immediate objection. “I’m in business, which operates ten times faster than academia. And not only that, I’m an entrepreneur. I operate ten times faster than business does. It is oil and water. It would never, never work.”

Without blinking an eye, he answered, “Danita, that is exactly why I thought of you. Because that’s what higher education needs.”

Not being persuaded by his quick reply, I proceeded with six additional objections.

After every one, he said, “Yes, and that’s the reason I thought of you for this position.”

Later that night, as I walked out of the meeting, I dialed my husband to tell him about the crazy conversation I’d had.

He listened, then said, “Danita, this role would be perfect for you.”

What? My husband is practical and realistic. He’s the one who keeps my feet on the ground. I’d expected him to squash the idea.

But his response launched me into the next thirty days. Never in my wildest dreams had I considered such a role. During that time, all I could think and dream about was the incredible platform and opportunity to impact the next generation to be world changers—to be a catalyst in building young leaders of character who would then build other young leaders of character during their lifetime. I even rehearsed my acceptance speech.

Well, I know enough about myself to know that I can be excited for thirty days. The true test is what happens on day thirty-one. Sure enough, on day thirty-one I was back to normal. That was on a Monday. But on Friday my son called me, and normal was about to shift gears on me.

My son had just attended the Willow Creek Global Leadership Conference and wanted to fill me in on what he’d heard from the various speakers. He relayed events in his upbeat, enthusiastic but somewhat disconnected way. Suddenly, in mid-sentence, he stopped: “Mom, I have a message for you.” His voice shifted gears. It had gravitas, intent, and total focus: “Mom, you must prioritize the passing on of your leadership wisdom and insights to the next generation.”

The words, coming from my twenty-three-year-old son, struck right to my core.

Then the serious moment ended. He returned to his typical happy-go-lucky self with, “Gotta go, Mom. Hanging out with some friends. Talk later.”

In the days and weeks that followed, my son’s words gained momentum in my thoughts and heart. I wondered why I was so deeply affected by our conversation, other than the fact that this “message” came from my young adult son and not a seasoned leadership guru or spiritual mentor. For him to break stride and be so intently focused was jaw-dropping in its rareness.

As I considered the commencement speech, the conversation with Mark about the board of trustees, and what my son had said, something awakened inside me. This “something” was new, vibrant. It carried a different sensation than I’d ever felt before. For me, this was the Holy Spirit saying, “I need you to pay attention to this, to shift your focus.”

Soon after, early one autumn morning, I took my journaling session outside. Shorter days had arrived, and with them the chill that hung in the air. I settled down to do some serious reflecting on this sequence of events.

Mentoring millennials wasn’t on any of my to-do lists. It wasn’t part of my one-page strategic plan. It was nowhere on my radar screen. Yet I was being invited to zero in on the development of up-and-coming, character-based business and sales leaders. Why? So that they might become positive agents of change in our world. I was being called to shift gears and to positively impact their spiritual and leadership transformations.

That moment marked a two-wheeled turn in my direction.

During my subsequent reflection on the “leadership wisdom and insights” part of my son’s message, I dove back into my 101-page spiritual and leadership development case study, “The Lady with the Lantern: Called to Love,” which I’d compiled for Ministry Leadership 501 at Bethel University in 2006. One hundred and one pages—that’s a long paper when it comes to examining your life! The analysis process had been based on one of my favorite leadership development books, The Making of a Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development written by Dr. Robert J. Clinton.

The final section of the case study asked me to identify key experiences or turning points in each leadership development stage, starting with when I was three years old. I answered the following questions:

What leadership lesson did I learn through this experience?

What wisdom did I gain?

How did I respond differently in this experience than others might have reacted?

What did I learn about God?

How do these insights impact my relationship with God?

How do these insights impact my responsibilities as a godly ambassador?

As you might imagine, several aha moments struck during this introspective exercise. One key discovery was that many of my leadership and spiritual formation lessons were rooted in my growing-up years in an eight-hundred-square-foot homestead shack on an isolated cattle ranch in northwestern North Dakota.

This realization ignited the need to blog, and I titled my first blog series “DAKOTA Leadership.” Over time, that series evolved to become “Millennial Matters.”

Why am I sharing this story?

During the many hours I’ve talked with trusted mentors, colleagues, family, and friends, one realization has stood out: millennials need us. The world is undergoing a rapid shift, and millions of young adults struggle to find their footing. Amid this cultural chaos, next-gen leaders need the benefit of what we know. They need our wisdom and our insights. This message is for all of us who are builders of companies and leaders of people.

What happened with the University of Sioux Falls offer? In the end, I discerned that being a university president was not for me. It would be oil and water. I also realized that my passion is for energizing and equipping business leaders to coach and mentor (dare we say, disciple) emerging leaders. The results of their investment in these leaders are threefold. They will:

Maximize their business

Mobilize their leaders

Realize their legacy

Millennials: A Lasting Plan to Realize Your Legacy

Leaders build leaders. Most of the experienced business owners I work with are focused on driving growth and performance. Yes, business results are important. However, many of these leaders also know that the legacy they leave, both at work and at home, matters even more. This is the mark of true wisdom and effective stewardship.

We live in the wealthiest nation during the wealthiest time in history. And some of us even live in the wealthiest state or suburb. In Luke 12:48, Jesus says that to whom much is given, much will be required. Let’s be frank. We have been given much, haven’t we? If you’ve traveled internationally, you know what we’ve been given goes beyond what we imagined when we were young, planning our careers, and crafting our life goals.

What do Jesus’ words mean today?

I submit that mentoring the next generation of leaders, especially those that God has placed in our sphere of influence, is part of what is required of us. This is an unprecedented time in history. Millennials are entering a global economy that’s filled with threats and opportunities beyond the imagination of any previous generation. Ethical issues abound with the advent of robotics, artificial intelligence, quantum mechanics, genetic engineering, and a multitude of other complexities. It’s understandable that they’re filled with mixed emotions (ranging from fear to excitement) about making a positive difference. The world is crazy. Our young leaders need our guidance; they need us to pass on the experience we have received and the wisdom we have gained. And, to maximize their influence in the global community, we need fresh insight into how God wants us to mentor and coach this generation.

Your legacy making doesn’t end when you retire. In The Making of a Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development, Robert Clinton spotlights five phases of leadership development. What he found in his studies of leaders is that many of them stop at phase four. They’ve built their successful businesses and are looking forward to retirement, when they can kick back and take it easy. That is what they’ve been working toward their whole life.

But Clinton proposes that every preceding phase in our lives is actually part of our preparation for stage five, which is often after retirement. Every seemingly unrelated event we experience, the people we meet, and the work we do—they’re all part of God’s preparation to lead us to this next stage. Clinton calls the fifth stage Convergence.

Stage five is when we can have the broadest impact. Millennials need us senior leaders of proven moral character to proactively and positively impart wisdom so they get the leadership traction needed to lead well in this rapidly changing culture.

What seemingly unrelated disconnected events have happened over the course of your life to date? Really consider that. Perhaps, like me, you’ve become aware that God is now merging all of your past experiences, talents, skills, and wisdom for a greater purpose.

You are being called to make a difference, and to build our next-gen leaders. More specifically, you have the responsibility to coach and mentor your next-gen leader, the one who comes to mind even as you are reading. This young leader can and will make the difference. You and I play an important role in making that happen. To whom much is given, much is required.

Will you accept the challenge to mentor, coach, and disciple your up-and-coming leader?

I believe that my son’s message is a prophetic call, not only for me but for all of us who have the ability to give back. We must not abdicate this responsibility. It’s time to shift gears and be intentionally proactive and strategic. Maybe you’re thinking, No one’s going to listen to me anyway.

God inspired the words of the following poem, “The Calling,” during a time when I needed strengthening for the journey. In sharing this poem with you, it is my wholehearted prayer that the words will confirm your calling—that you use your uniquely crafted talents to make a difference in the lives of the millennials within your sphere of influence.

The Calling

I am calling you,

I am anointing you,

I am setting you apart for a divine purpose.

Rise up and walk in it.

Turn your back on how you’ve done it before.

Behold, I am making all things new.

I am opening new vistas and opportunities.

Walk in confidence.

How to Get the Most out of This Book

The ideas I present in the upcoming chapters are designed to help you get, and stay, ahead of the game as you develop and strengthen your next-gen leader. Millennials Matter isn’t meant to be a prescriptive rule book that you follow to the letter. Instead, it will stimulate your thinking, deepen your understanding of a given topic (especially as it pertains to the cultural arena in which your next-gen leader wants to flourish), and enable you to spark dynamic communication and build a trusting relationship with your mentee.

Here are five tips for how to get the most out of this book:

Read Randomly. Of course, you’re welcome to start at page one and read through to the end, but if you prefer, skip around. You’ll find practical tips, tools, and talking points to energize and equip you.

Share Stories. I also share stories of experiences provided by my mentors and lessons I’ve tackled first-hand. These are intended to stimulate your reflection on your own years of leadership development as you exhort, affirm, and encourage your next-gen leader. Share your personal stories with your mentee. Listen to theirs in return. We learn from each other.

Ask Questions. Periodically I’ll ask a question to stimulate your reflections. Use those reflections, your own leadership and spiritual experiences, to help build trusting relationships with your next-gen leader.

Consider the Spiritual Perspective. It may help you to more clearly understand my spiritual perspective. I’m an ardent follower of Jesus Christ. I remind myself regularly of the greatest commandment Jesus gave us: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and [love] your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27 ESV). Love is the ultimate measure of my life, and I believe it’s the ultimate measure of each of our lives. Therefore, I strive to ensure that each leadership principle I write about is rooted in Scripture and comes from a serving heart, so that I integrate proven leadership principles with spiritual passion.

However, like you, I’m on a continual spiritual expedition, and I want to take a learning stance. I don’t discount the insights found in other religions and forms of spirituality. I’m a seeker of truth, because all truth is God’s truth. On occasion, I quote Scripture from the Bible or refer to personal experiences when I’ve felt that God was guiding me. This doesn’t mean that I disqualify anyone who isn’t a Jesus-follower from the potential to be a highly effective character-based leader.

Recognize the Individual. Often, I sit down with millennials and ask, “If there is one thing you feel is most important for experienced leaders to know about you and your generation, what is it?” The first answer I invariably hear is, “I’m not a trend. I’m an individual. Get to know me for who I am.”

As leaders and mentors, we have a unique vantage point to discover what is distinctive about our next-gen leaders and to guide them to develop and leverage those attributes. We are mirrors to them, to opening their eyes to see the strengths of their dreams, motivation, perspectives, and style. During this process we work to draw out the best in each person we work with, and we also tap the best in ourselves. Even though I highlight many trends throughout the book, it’s vital to remember that your next-gen leader is an individual, not a trend.

As a final note, Millennials Matter was inspired by three important categories of thought:

Strengthen Your Character. Some think character development isn’t a problem with millennials. Others hold the opinion that it’s insulting to even talk about character development. Yet if we were to ask the ancients, they’d say the development of character and virtue is ongoing, and that character and virtue are at the core of who we are and guide all of our decision making. My belief is that character development is the highest priority for every leader.

Lead with Confidence. Some insist that this generation is confident enough, and we don’t have to address this topic with them. I question whether this is true belief in oneself that emanates from the school of hard knocks. Is it confidence based on reality, and able to withstand the shaking of one’s core values? All leaders grapple with their self-assuredness when it is rattled and tested. Those whose confidence stems from a solid foundation will become stronger in the crucible and become even more confident over time.

Engage in Collaboration. Many argue that millennials are experts at collaboration, that they’ve been instructed in the importance of teamwork. It’s easy to collaborate with people who have similar values, but what happens when team members have diverse values and ways of thinking? Do millennials seek to understand, or do they quickly discount other perspectives? Remember the story of the elephant? One person says the elephant is shaped like a snake, and the other says it is shaped like a wall. Only when they bring their perspectives together can they agree. True collaboration happens when we respect and seek to understand every teammate’s viewpoint.

With that in mind, it’s time to shift gears.

1

Why Millennials Matter

Millennials. They’re one of the most talked-about, written-about, and agonized-about generations of all time. Born between 1980 and the mid-2000s, they’ll comprise more than 50 percent of the workforce by 2020.1 To ensure vibrant, thriving business growth, we need to tap their strengths.

The 2017 Bloomberg article, “A Quarter of Millennials Who Live at Home Don’t Work—or Study,” reveals just how many young people have difficulty placing themselves on a career path:

Approximately 33 percent of eighteen- to thirty-four-year-olds live at home or in college dormitories.

Of those twenty-five- to thirty-four-year-olds who live with their parents, 25 percent neither work nor are enrolled in school—that’s 2.2 million millennials in the United States.2

In the 2016 Inc.com article “29 Surprising Facts That Explain Why Millennials See the World Differently,” author Gordon Tredgold presented statistics to help us understand what drives this generation:

35 percent of employed millennials have started their own businesses on the side to supplement their incomes.

54 percent either want to start a business or already have.

64 percent of millennials would rather make $40,000 a year at a job they love than $100,000 a year at a job they think is boring.

69 percent believe regular office attendance is unnecessary.

74 percent want flexible work schedules.

80 percent say they prefer on-the-spot recognition over formal reviews and feel this recognition is imperative for their growth and understanding of their job.

84 percent say that helping to make a positive difference in the world is more important than professional recognition.

88 percent prefer a collaborative work culture rather than a competitive one.

92 percent believe that business success should be measured by more than just profit.3

When I ask experienced business leaders how they see the millennial generation, I either hear glowing praise or intense frustration, rarely anything in between. This is a fascinating trend with this generation.

Dennis Thum, chaplain at the University of Sioux Falls, gave me this analogy:

I think of it as a camel. When you interact with the first hump, you see impressive, emerging leaders that give you great hope for the future of the world. Then when you talk with those from the second hump, you see people who appear to be lost, without hope.

Some are coming from the stereotypical background of entitlement and overprotection (helicopter parents). Some are simply distracted by the hedonistic and materialistic milieu in which they have been raised and are not ready to grow up. Some are badly wounded by life’s complexities, such as children of divorce, the Great Recession, and parental addiction issues. It appears that many aren’t sure that there is hope. When you have been raised in a very difficult situation and haven’t had anyone to serve as a mentor or guide, it’s difficult to know who you can trust.

In a recent survey, our company, Sales Growth Specialists, asked business leaders to list all the frustrations they experience in working with millennials. Business owners, CEOs, presidents, and business advisors responded—271 of them. Of those, 60 percent said they have deep concerns with how to work with this generation.

The top three response categories were:

Character traits (45 percent)

Confidence (34 percent)

Collaboration (21 percent)

Their strongest complaints were the following:

Lack of determination and resiliency (22 percent)

Lack of accountability (17 percent)

A know-it-all attitude (14 percent)

Disregard for the value of work (12 percent)

Low conflict-resolution skills (9 percent)

Many millennials tend to be overeducated, underemployed, and heavily in debt. Their childhoods were generally filled with praise, but lacking the investment of positive role models. With extensive knowledge available at their fingertips, most appear to have plenty of confidence. But it’s artificial maturity, not earned confidence based on practical everyday experience.4 In a world of increasing diversity, some millennials shut down communication, instead of collaborating, when dealing with conflict and differences.

A WORD FROM A MILLENNIAL …

“I want to talk to you about this word millennial