Ways to Manage Your Millennials
How Millennials Can Manage Their Boomer and Gen X Bosses
Like any group of people, Millennials and their older, more experienced bosses will have differences. So to ensure good working relationships, honest communication is paramount.
Millennials should get to know their bosses and what their expectations and guidelines are, says Jennifer Oyer, a Millennial and chief development officer for the Salvation Army’s Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division.
Jeff Shonka, president and CEO of First Insurance Co. of Hawaii, says Millennials shouldn’t hold back in asking for clarity, assistance and further development. “One of the great things about Millennials and Gen Xers is that they want transparency,” he says. “They don’t want to live in a vague world so if you are uncertain about what your boss expects of you, what you want and what they want you to do, just ask them.”
Ken Gilbert, senior consultant and partner of Business Consulting Resources, advises that Millennials also have conversations with their managers to better understand the workplace culture.
He suggests asking the following questions: “What is your opinion of quality of life? … What’s your perspective of how my generation thinks? What do you think we as Millennials – this is a classic question that they should ask – what do you think that we, myself and my contemporary as a Millennial, need to do to be more successful in this firm?”
