Millennials are the most talked about generation – ever. 

And it’s no wonder. Millennials are set to make up 50% of the global workforce by 2020, and 75% by 2025 – but they're the most disengaged generation of employees in history. In fact, only 28.9% of millennials say they are engaged at work. But why is this?

To understand how to engage millennials in your organisation, you need to walk in their shoes.

Millennials see the world differently to the previous generation. 

Professional relationships have broken down into social ones, and workplace hierarchies have been replaced by networks. Careers are no longer created within one company, but forged across several organisations. Millennials travel more, move more, care more, do more and want more. They play by a different set of rules (that aren't rules) and want things to change FAST.

Confused?

You're not alone. Companies around the world are struggling to engage millennials. So with that in mind, here's five ways to engage millennials in your organisation.

1. Growth

This generation is all about growth. Millennials who are not progressing in their career soon become disengaged and will look for opportunities elsewhere. They won't wait around for a promotion – they want fast growth, and will jump from company to company to achieve it.

2. Purpose

For millennials, a job is much more than a way of earning money. They want to work on projects where they can make the best work of their lives and have a positive impact on the world around them. Millennials are more likely to be engaged at work if your company has a strong social awareness, and creates a space where employees have the creative freedom to experiment, pioneer and make change.

3. Attitude

A hierarchical 'command-and-control' attitude might have worked with Generation X, but it won't stand a chance with millennials. They've had to fight against rising tuition fees, impossible housing prices and fierce job competition to get to where they are. They’ve risen out of the global financial crisis, but can now expect to earn 20% less than previous generations. They have strong opinions and they view authority differently. Millennials love collaboration, trust and training, so getting them to work together on projects will help them stay engaged.

4. Flexibility

Millennials want to work hard, grow fast and make a difference – but that doesn't mean they want to be cooped up in the office all day! They're the first generation of digital natives, so all they need to work is a Wi-Fi connection. By giving millennials the freedom to move around the office or work from home will make them more productive and more engaged.

5. Communication

One of the most common things companies forget about millennials is communication. Millennials are in constant contact with the people in their lives, so they want regular feedback at work too. You don't have to give them a pat on the back the whole time, just keep them in the loop. Use tech like WhatsApp, email, Slack – or a good ol' fashioned chat – to make sure millennials stay engaged.

 

Following these steps will help your millennials feel engaged at work – but they're true for every employee in your organisation.

To find out how motivated your staff feel, download our free employee engagement survey.