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Keeping Millennials Happy at Work Drives Productivity

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KEEPING MILLENIALS HAPPY AT WORK DRIVES PRODUCTIVITY – MILLENNIALS ON THE RISE

“On a scale of one to ten, the average score on employee happiness at work is between five and five and a half” – Kerstin Jatho (The 2014 Science of Happiness @ Work™ Conference).

“Millennials are looking for meaning in their work”, says Jatho. The question is: are employers providing the kind of environment where they deem their contributions to not only add to the profitability and success of the organisation, but also have a positive impact on their own professional and personal development?

Leading Neuroscientist, Psychiatrist and MIT Faculty Member, Dr Tara Swart, agrees that it all boils down to meaning and purpose. In order to ultimately get the most out of any employee, leaders need to keep them engaged and earn their trust by ensuring they see the value of their contributions.

Top Tips to Ensure Millennials are Happy and Productive at Work

  1. Remember: Engagement + Happiness@Work = Greater productivity.
  2. Layout and explain the organisation’s goals and/or objectives. Let them feel a part of the direction in which the company is headed.
  3. Give a clear outline of what is expected – this adds meaning to the work they do. Jeremy Kingsley, a leadership expert and author, says that “If you can explain the whole picture, it connects the meaning to the person.”
  4. Outline a progression path – millennials are eager to quickly progress in their careers and are rarely willing to wait too long for promotion opportunities. Set smaller steps to measure & reward advancement rather than lofty goals 3-4 years in the future.
  5. Offer mentorship opportunities and develop a personal connection – this will also have a healthy effect on the company retaining talent.
  6. Create a positive vibe. Companies like Google are inundated with applications – the environment is flowing with positive energy and high spirits. Introduce some fun activities – lunch out once a month, music, interaction with people in the work space: good old fashioned conversations about interests and hobbies works wonders for engagement.

MILLENNIALS ON THE RISE

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that millennials will make up a staggering 75% of the workforce by the year 2030. They will comprise nearly half in only five years’ time, according to a study conducted by PwC.

Profile of the Millennial worker

  • Aged roughly between 18 and 35
  • The most educated generation (34% of millennials hold at least a Bachelor’s degree), yet are plagued by unemployment
  • Diverse in terms of culture
  • Dislike red tape and hierarchies
  • Job hoppers

Millennials are quickly shaping up to be the drivers of the working environment. For them, it’s all about fulfilment in what they do – meaning and purpose.  It is imperative that organisations prioritise happiness at work and understand that this is a major driver of performance.

Karl Moore, a contributor to the Forbes website, says millennials are on a constant search for happiness; “Millennials work for purpose, not paychecks”. If an organisation cannot clearly define their role, thereby giving purpose in their employment, they will actively search for an organisation that will do so.

 

References

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