Millennials are all-too familiar with reality TV.
From the drama-filled series “The Real World” to the ever-famous quest for a record deal on “American Idol.” The debate can rage for hours on whether reality television is staged or is in fact real. After being marketed to and sold this false sense of reality, millennials are on a quest to find authenticity in the workplace.
Millennials want their leaders to be a real person, not the reality TV kind, but a genuine person who will get down on their level, share experiences and guide them to be a better employee. The millennial generation is criticized for their overzealous passion to get ahead in the workplace, and it’s often construed as a negative behavior. These young, passionate workers want leaders who demonstrate the same level of intensity and passion.
In this short video, Mitch Kosh, senior vice president of Global Human Resources at Ralph Lauren Corporation, gets to the heart of the millennial generation’s quest for authenticity when he said, “[Millennials] look for adults who are as alive and as passionate and as on fire and energetic, and can really tell a story with a sense of wisdom and inclusion.”
It’s with this sense of wisdom and inclusion that leaders have the power to create a candid connection with employees; a connection that millennials crave.
Great leaders inspire and today, nearly 70 percent of employees want to be inspired. This ability to inspire is what separates effective leaders from average leaders. Peter Handal, chief executive of Dale Carnegie Training, a leadership training company, shares five things great leaders do every day:
- Face Challenges: Great leaders are brave and face up to challenging situations honestly.
- Win Trust: Employees are more loyal when they work in an organization run by people they trust.
- Be Authentic: Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. Be yourself. People can tell when you’re being fake.
- Earn Respect: Conduct yourself in an ethical way and model the traits you want to see in others.
- Stay Curious: Good leaders remain intellectually curious and committed to learning.
Practicing these five keys to effective leadership can help leaders better connect with their employees, especially the youngest working generation. This connection can ultimately inspire employees to work harder for your bottom line.
