Dana Manciagli , Contributing Writer, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal
Last year, millennials surpassed Generation X in the workplace.
Today, in the U.S., one in three workers is a millennial, someone between the ages of 18 and 34.
They’re numerically the largest generation, standing strong at an estimated 80 million.
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But beyond the numbers, the millennial mindset is changing traditional views of business, creating challenges and opportunities.
A 2015 Deloitte survey highlights the millennial attitude:
- About 6 in 10 respondents said a sense of purpose is part of the reason they chose to work for their current employer.
- Nearly 64 percent believe businesses are focused on their own agendas rather than helping to improve society.
- The 2014 survey showed that only 28 percent of millennials felt that their current organization is making full use of their skills.
Businesses need to focus on more than just profits and embrace new skill sets to tap into the strength of millennial leaders. While making a business and leadership shift will be challenging, it is necessary to remain relevant in the face of these new realities.
Jon Mertz, author of Activate Leadership: Aspen Truths to Empower Millennial Leaders, focuses on bringing generations together to guide and challenge millennials in the workplace. According to Mertz, while current generations need to provide a foundation, millennials will mold it in three key ways.
