I’m going to say a word. And immediately you are going to form an assumption, positive or negative, about this word. You can’t help it, because that’s how we react as humans.
The word is: Millennial.
Boom. Immediately after reading that word you are either proud or perhaps you have rolled your eyes. If you are a millennial, you want to prove that you are strong and working hard for your independence. If you are from a different generation, you may think otherwise. There have been plenty of articles written about how millennials are self-centered. Whether this is true or not… who says it’s a bad thing? Sometimes it is a necessary evil to be a little self-centered. For instance, as a 24-year-old woman, I need to be aware of my surroundings working in a male-dominated industry: sales. It has not once bothered me that most of my coworkers are male, and I have never batted an eye when speaking to plenty of male prospects whether they are kind or annoyed. This is the great thing about my generation. We are bold and we use that boldness to our advantage, men and women alike.
With that being said, I am very aware that I am in the minority as a woman, not only in the workforce, but in the business world. The number of women in business is growing, which is fantastic, and our generation of millennials is helping that number reach upward. Kim described this gender gap a few weeks ago and I foresee the gap closing in future years. Being a part of a generation of flash mobs, viral cat videos, FaceTime, and nonstop technology growth is exciting and exhausting. I have grown up wanting to be the best I can at all of my activities, which translated into school work and eventually a career. I am driven as many of my fellow millennials are. It’s in our nature. If you’re behind on technology or fall behind with a project, it is hard to get back on the right path. Things are moving faster than they did years ago and as the next generation of leaders, I feel like we have a good grip on how to keep the world turning.
Do you see a difference in generations at your organization? Everyone’s perspectives are different and new ideas can help improve a company’s culture.
