Are millennials the problem? Or is it just others?

I've always understood that different generations worked and strived for different things. My parents worked hard and for them putting a roof over our heads were their main objective. They would then save every remaining penny for my brother and I for whatever we may need it for. I remember vividly, both of them working long hours, two jobs and still come home with a smile although it's been rough. We didn't have much, but we had enough.

When I finally got into the workforce, the landscape has changed. Everyone spoke about work life balance, working smarter and how the Blackberry was gonna change the way we work forever. So in the era where the mantra was working smarter and "balancing", I had an epiphany that if I put in more hours with no balance, a university degree at hand and a sprinkle of working smarter, I would be way ahead in no time. As life would have it, while there's progress (albeit extremely slowly), nothing really changed for the first 3 years of my career and I wasn't doing any better than my peers. I got my first big break when I got a call from a recruiter to interview for a job Ive applied for 2 years ago. I'd admit I wasn't remotely qualified for the role and for some reason, my manager took a chance on me. 

From that moment, I began to understand that despite how times may have changed, hard work and patience was still very much an essential ingredient, but most importantly, a little bit of luck won't hurt.

I have always wanted to be in a position where I could at least be that person to give someone a chance, maybe that stroke of luck that everyone needs.

Fast forward to today, I've been extremely fortunate to have had an opportunity to coach and mentor some millennials at work. They look at life and work completely different from how we would ever perceive it to be and rightfully so. For a moment, i thought, "I know how these millennials work, shouldn't be too hard to work with them". Wrong again...

The millennial generation, in my opinion, graduated from university and into the workforce with so much more capabilities than we ever did. I know many talk about how millennials have this aura of feeling entitled. Lets stop for a second, step back and look at it objectively, look within your organisation, observe the inefficiencies and incompetencies, and you will soon see what they see.They are the generation that have redefined the definition of working smarter, harder and faster. Perfecting it, means more time for "life". It is no wonder that they feel entitled when despite their abilities, they are still undermined at work, and feeling stuck.

I remembered someone telling me that the only thing that they lack is the experience.

So empowered with my new found "understanding", I sought out to impart them with the missing ingredient of "experience". It didn't take long for me to realise that giving doesn't always mean being received in good faith. This may not be what he or she wants to learn, and suddenly its a discussion of, "I wanna learn the things I wanna learn not what's necessarily available."

After all these years, while I'm learning something new everyday, I don't think I'm necessarily progressing well with this next generation mentoring thing if I'm being honest. I've tried but I don't think I have given them more than what they've already knew but on the contrary, my mentee have definitely taught me a thing or two. 

So my advice for those who are willing to try, have patience, keep an open mind and advice when needed. 

As for me, I think I'm done for now... maybe until I catch up with "life" again.

Article first seen on LinkedIn post in October 2019.