6 Most Effective Ways to Keep Your Millennial and Gen Z Employees Productive [+ Infographic!]

Now that a new generation of employees has entered the picture, the modern work environment has become more complex than ever. If you look at different companies, you’ll see offices with a mix of employees from various age groups. To be particular, an influx of millennials and Gen Z employees have now swarmed office populations.

It doesn’t matter which generation is working for you. The important thing is you know how to adapt to their needs, so you can bring out the best in them. Not only will you help them learn and grow, you’ll also be able to improve your business throughout your empathetic leadership process.

With more of them graduating from their respective colleges and universities, it is expected that they’ll fill the global workforce in the years to come.

Unfortunately, members of the aforementioned generations are known to be notorious when it comes to handling work. In the content we consume, the news we watch, and even in the gossip we hear, they’re often labeled as the age group filled with entitled, selfish, and arrogant individuals.

If all of this were true, then it would be an absolute nightmare for recruiters.

Thankfully, most of these are based on stereotypes and hasty generalizations rather than personal experiences. However, this trend should serve as a sign for employers to reassess their company culture and the strategies they apply when it comes to optimizing employee performance.

It’s not easy to admit, but burnout gets the best of us

Getting the most out of your younger employees and keeping burnout at bay is much easier if you take the time and effort to get to know them. Just like their baby boomer and Gen X seniors, they also have their own work preferences, internal sources of motivation, and values.

Luckily, this can be done with a little extra effort and patience.

Given the right treatment and guidance, you’ll find that your younger employees can actually be great contributors to your company. Even though their behavior may not be fully controlled, as the leaders of your company, you have the power to influence the way they work.

Almost half of all B2B decision makers are millennials

Instead of relying on “gossip”, establishing a good working relationship will allow you to know what excites them, what they value, and how they approach their work. Taking note of the information will help you understand what buttons to push to get them to perform at the highest level.

Everyone was new at one point, and everyone who has a college diploma should realize that adjusting from campus to office could be a very overwhelming experience.

Be a leader that they can be comfortable with and help them transition to the real world. Spending more time with them, such as eating with them during lunch or asking how they’re doing from time to time, are small ways to let them know that you care.

A better alternative would be getting to know their strengths and weaknesses so you can adapt your empathetic leadership style to lead them better.

To learn more, take a look at this infographic for tips and advice on how to keep millennials productive.

Jomel Alos is a Consultant at Guthrie-Jensen Training Consultant, a management training and consultancy firm in the Philippines. He enjoys sharing his knowledge on human resource solutions, as well as helping businesses achieve greater growth, competitiveness, and profitability. When he’s not working, he’s watching TV shows about designing like Tiny House Nation, Forged in Fire, and Ellen’s Design Challenge.

CakeHR is an award-winning HR software company that provides attendance, performance and recruitment management for customers worldwide. More information at www.cake.hr