Lausanne World Pulse – Themed Articles – Leading and Connecting with the Next Generation by Understanding Generational Differences

By Graeme Codrington
June 2008

Connecting with the Millennial Generation
If all of this is true, then how does one connect effectively with these younger people? We want to be aware of their values and expectations as we decide how we are going to connect with them, lead and motivate them, or communicate with them. Unfortunately, the Boomer approach to solving these sorts of problems is typically simplistic—they want a silver bullet, seven habits, twelve mindsets, twenty-one laws, or something equally as easy to implement. In a short article like this, the best I can do is offer a few helpful hints to get us thinking in the right direction.

  1. Be the leader. Generation Y has grown up with structure and supervision, with parents as role models. Millennials are looking for leaders with vision, honesty, and integrity. They respond well to leaders who present a clear direction, and who are good mentors.
  2. Don’t treat them like kids. The teenagers and young adults of this generation are quite sophisticated in terms of communication, entertainment, worldview, and relationships. Do not patronise them. Show them respect, and expect it in return.
  3. Use multimedia and expect them to multitask. They live fast and learn fast. They prefer information to flow quickly and through multiple channels (“multi-media” doesn’t mean you have to use laptops and data projectors, it just means you need to use more than one means of communication simultaneously, engaging multiple senses and multiple learning styles in quick succession).
  4. Challenge them. Millennials want learning and development opportunities. They want to be assigned projects they can learn from.
  5. Involve them. They learn by doing. They want to get involved, and are not afraid to fail.
  6. Give something back. They want to make a difference in the world, and they want to know that the organization they are connected to is environmentally aware, ethical, and involved in societal issues.
  7. Understand that they are socially networked and have large friendship circles. They like being friends with the people they work with, and social interaction—both face to face and virtual—is critical for them.
  8. Have some fun. A little humour, a bit of silliness, even a little irreverence, will make your message more attractive.
  9. Be flexible. The busiest generation ever has their own priorities, and these supersede work, church, and other commitments. A rigid schedule is the easiest way to lose your Millennial young people.

Too many Boomers think that today’s young people are “going through a phase” and if they just hold out long enough, these young people will grow and see things their way. That is not going to happen. One of the most important lessons from generational theory is that each generation retains its basic identity and worldview as it grows older.

Of course, everyone gets slightly more conservative as they grow older, and especially when they have children. But Generation X started a lot less conservative than their parents, just as the Boomers started off less conservative than the Veteran generations before them. Xers won’t suddenly become Boomers—they’ll just become older Xers. The same will be true as the Millennial generation grows up into its maturity in a few decades time, and newer generations with different values emerge to follow them.

Our task as leaders is to take the time to understand them, adapt our methods for their ears, and engage them where we find them.

Endnote

1. 1991. Generations: The History of America’s Future, 1584 to 2069. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc.

Dr. Graeme Codrington is an author, speaker, and consultant on the issue of people strategy. He works with businesses, non-profits, and faith-based organizations, helping them to understand and connect better with their staff and customers. He can be contacted at [email protected].