A TikTok video titled “POV: You have a Millennial manager” went viral a few months ago.
The skit shows a chill manager asking an employee not to work while sick and advocating for using personal time for errands. He also highlights the importance of focusing on mental and physical health to prevent burnout.
The video sparked considerable discussion online (for almost a week!) as viewers praised millennial managers for their interest in creating a better work environment.
While, of course, it’s a comedic exaggeration, the skit highlights some traits of millennial managers.
So, what commands respect and admiration about millennials in leadership positions? What new elements are they introducing in jobs that older generations might not have mastered?
This article explores how millennial managers are changing the work culture. Let’s get into it!
How Millennial Managers are Changing the Way We Work
Summarize this article for me pleaseCharacteristics of Millennial Managers
“Millennials don’t want to be told what to do.”
“Millennials are too busy with their side hustles to care about the 9-to-5.”
“Millennials have a sense of entitlement.”
Every week brings a fresh take on the generation expected to make up 75% of the workforce by 2025.
Despite all this, more and more millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) are moving into management roles in organizations. And they’re not just managing the workforce of their generation and the Gen-Z age group; they’re also leading Gen-X workers and baby boomer professionals.
Millennials’ entry into the management side of things has definitely made the workplace more interesting. They bring their unique values and learning to management, perhaps more than any other generation.
Here’s how a millennial manager describes their management style.
Let’s take a look at some of the common characteristics of millennial managers:
1. Setting the bar high
Millennials are known for their ambitious expectations. If a project or task doesn’t meet their high standards, they’ll push for improvements or set more demanding goals.
The book Youth, Jobs, and the Future: Problems and Prospects mentions—Millennials are unique; they tend to believe that working hard is more important than the baby boomers do.
2. Tech-savvy
Millennials have been criticized for their screen obsession for too long, but growing up with technology actually works to their advantage. They’re in a league of their own, always looking for the next big thing to streamline processes and achieve faster results.
PwC’s 14th Annual Global CEO Survey states, “One of the defining characteristics of the millennial generation is their affinity with the digital world. They have grown up with broadband, smartphones, laptops, and social media being the norm and expect instant access to information. This is the first generation to enter the workplace with a better grasp of a key business tool than more senior workers.”
3. Honesty and transparency
Millennial managers also value honesty, offering straightforward feedback aimed at improvement rather than criticism. Their experience with instant feedback helps them incorporate constructive advice that’s both direct and supportive.
4. Teamwork makes their dream work
Millennials value collaboration and teamwork, even though they work well independently. Raised with ‘participation medals,’ they bring this mindset to the workplace, creating systems that encourage productive teamwork. They downplay traditional hierarchies to employ diverse skill sets of their colleagues and allocate resources accordingly.
5. Optimists with a cause
Despite being scrutinized, millennials remain highly motivated and optimistic about their work. Their drive helps them tackle challenges and push for success. Millennials’ enthusiasm translates into a strong work ethic and a desire to make a positive impact. Taking on ambitious projects or spearheading new initiatives with a ‘can-do’ attitude is typical for them.
6. Value-driven visionaries
Millennials place high importance on developing their personal values and viewing the world differently from previous generations. They’re more open-minded and committed to acceptance, which helps create an inclusive and positive work environment.
According to Randstad’s Workmonitor 2022 report, 43% of millennials would not join an employer whose social and environmental values didn’t align with theirs. Plus, 56% of young employees are also willing to quit their jobs if it interferes with how they want to lead their lives.
7. Jack of all trades
Millennial managers are pros at multitasking, balancing multiple projects with the finesse of a juggler. They thrive in dynamic environments, adeptly switching gears between tasks. But let’s be real—this talent sometimes leads them down the rabbit hole of distractions, especially with the ever-present allure of social media and notifications.
Research suggests that millennial managers are viewed as generalists rather than specialists as they have diverse education and a broad knowledge base.
8. Curiosity is a part of their DNA
Last but not least, millennial managers are driven by curiosity. The status quo is not enough; they constantly seek to learn more and improve. This insatiable curiosity leads to innovation and better decision-making, making them invaluable in the workplace. They’re the type to explore new skills, take on new challenges, and encourage their teams to do the same.
Summarize this article for me pleaseHow to Thrive as a Millennial Manager?
Millennials have been the largest generation in the workplace since 2016. They present a fresh perspective and a positive attitude that revitalizes a workplace. Their youthful energy is perfect for increasing productivity and lifting the mood when things start to feel stale.
While every new generation of managers faces the challenge of figuring out what it means to be successful in the role, millennial managers have some unique hurdles.
Yes, the generational gap is very real! Baby boomer employees have a hard time taking younger managers seriously, and the lack of traditional experience can be a concern for roles usually filled by those with more years on the job.
Building and managing a team can also be challenging for millennial managers when there are different age groups and work styles. However, the following strategies and tips can help millennial managers succeed:
1. Trust the team to deliver
Trust employees to be productive, regardless of their work environment—focusing on outcomes rather than hours worked. The past few years have demonstrated that employees can be efficient outside the traditional office setting. Allowing remote work provides greater balance and flexibility and builds trust.
Team productivity and collaboration tools like ClickUp can help manage hybrid and remote workforces. ClickUp is an all-in-one project management software designed to streamline operations.
With the ClickUp Project Management solution, managers can visualize the workflow and assign tasks to team members, organize projects, and collaborate effectively. It also helps plan projects, automate tasks, identify bottlenecks, and more.
Use ClickUp Tasks to easily create action items and get clear visibility into project progress. This helps manage workloads, making it easier for your team to focus on achieving results, no matter where they work from.
Plus, ClickUp Dashboards provide real-time insights into project progress and employee performance, making it easier to track productivity.
2. Lead with a ‘free to experiment’ approach
Practicing autonomy at work taps into the ambitions of today’s employees. The role of a manager in this scenario is to clear obstacles and provide guidance and encouragement, not micromanage. Allowing teams to take charge of their projects ignites their drive to achieve results.
Empowering a team to find its own solutions often leads to increased pride and a sense of ownership in the work. Rather than providing direct answers, sharing experiences will encourage employees to apply lessons independently. This approach can yield surprising and innovative results.
3. Appreciate and reward your team
Maintaining high morale involves recognizing and celebrating team efforts. One way to do this is by setting clear goals and tracking progress.
Luckily, goal-setting templates can provide a way to define objectives, making it clear what success looks like for each team member. They enable managers to set specific, measurable goals and then track progress toward those goals.
For instance, the ClickUp Goals Signals Measures Template, can help outline key performance indicators (KPIs) and milestones, allowing managers to see who is hitting their targets and where improvements are needed. This clarity helps monitor performance, making it easier to acknowledge and reward the team’s effort and achievements.
4. Provide clear career development pathways
Help team members grow professionally by setting clear and achievable career goals. Discuss their career ambitions and determine how to align them with the team’s objectives.
When the development goals are established, conduct regular check-ins with team members to see how things are going and offer support. This ensures that the team is moving toward the same big-picture goals.
Use ClickUp Goals to create measurable targets with clear timelines and track progress automatically. Features like numerical, monetary, and true/false targets allow you to measure success in specific ways.
💡Pro tip: Try career map templates to help your team identify and track personal learning and professional growth goals.
5. Share the bigger picture
As a millennial manager, it’s crucial for you to communicate the greater vision to the team or department. Highlight the meaningful impact the company is looking to create, whether through societal contributions, innovative products, or creating valuable opportunities within the company.
These actions will help align organizational goals with the values of younger generations who prioritize purpose in their careers. This begins with collaborative brainstorming.
Leverage ClickUp Whiteboards to brainstorm ideas, collaborate with the team in real-time, connect workflows, and facilitate faster innovation. Attach files, tasks, and docs to Whiteboards to convert ideas into action. This makes the team feel included, encouraging them to focus on the larger vision.
6. Cultivate a strong team culture
To build a culture of open communication, create an environment where every member can voice their concerns without fear of judgment. Conduct regular sessions to discuss progress, challenges, and new ideas. Ensure these meetings are structured yet open-ended enough to allow for free-flowing group discussions.
Taking immediate, smaller actions can also make a big difference.
Set the expectation that you’ll log off at a reasonable hour and encourage your team to do the same—because everyone deserves a life outside of work! Promote practices like ‘Meeting-Free Mondays’ and encourage your team to take mental health days when needed, no questions asked.
ClickUp’s Company Culture Template can help outline an effective company culture. It helps managers visualize and align their team’s activities, expectations, and values.
Start by brainstorming company values and list key characteristics. Then, identify goals and initiatives to cultivate those values and implement them. This helps foster a culture of trust and motivation in the workplace.
💡Pro tip: You can also use ClickUp Docs to write company policies.
Summarize this article for me pleaseHow Millennials are Changing Work Culture for the Better?
Millennial managers know that bean-to-cup coffee machines and breakroom ping pong tables won’t increase job satisfaction or ace employee motivation. This generation is all about purpose and progress, not just perks.
Young employees want company policies, values, and development programs to align with their vision, ideals, and the bright future they’re planning. So, while a cappuccino machine is nice, it’s career growth that really boosts millennials!
Some notable ways millennials are introducing a generational change in the workplace are:
1. Value-driven leadership over old-school management
Traditional leaders stressed profit margins and bottom-line results, sometimes at the expense of employee well-being or societal impact. Millennials are redefining work culture with a value-driven team leadership style, focusing on purpose, authenticity, and transparency.
They are making a meaningful difference in the following aspects:
Purpose over profits
Companies led by millennials are more likely to implement green initiatives or support social causes. Millennials set business goals extending beyond profit margins, aiming to make a positive societal impact. This is evident in their support for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing, which promotes sustainable and ethical business practices.
Authenticity and transparency
By being open about challenges and successes, millennial managers create a culture of accountability and support, encouraging their teams to be equally honest and engaged.
According to Deloitte’s 2024 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, environmental sustainability is a top priority for millennials.
2. Collaboration over competition
Earlier, workplaces unintentionally promoted competition by highlighting individual performance metrics and rankings. This led to a silo mentality and office politics, where departments or employees were more intent on surpassing each other rather than working toward shared goals.
Millennials are changing the team management game by putting collaboration and inclusion ahead of competition in the workplace.
The real value of diversity
For millennials, diversity isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a real advantage. A millennial manager knows that bringing together people with different backgrounds and opinions can lead to more creative and effective solutions. Instead of being bossy, a millennial manager is more likely to act as a facilitator, helping their diverse teams collaborate and manage workload smoothly.
Inclusive leadership
Millennial leaders are considered inclusive by nature. They value everyone’s input and strive to create an environment where all voices are heard. This inclusivity helps in building stronger, more cohesive teams. By involving everyone in discussions and decision-making processes, they ensure that the team benefits from a wide range of insights and experiences.
3. Continuous feedback over yearly evaluations
In the past, feedback from the boss or other members was usually given during annual reviews, which could be intimidating and often too late to drive changes. Nowadays, with the shift toward flatter and more team-oriented structures, millennials prioritize constant communication in the workplace.
The importance of regular feedback
Since millennials grew up with instant messaging and social media, they appreciate the value of timely feedback. It’s because they want to keep improving and ensure their work aligns with the company’s goals.
Bridging the communication gap
Millennials value regular check-ins and clear performance targets, using managerial methods like KPIs Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). They also believe in open dialogue sessions, which create a transparent work environment.
4. Productivity over working hours
Millennials are promoting new concepts of work-life balance and better workplace flexibility. The pandemic hastened the transition from the traditional 9-to-5 workday to flexible working hours, a shift that millennials had been rooting for even before.
For them, productivity isn’t about clocking in long hours at the office—but creating a flexible work environment that can actually boost performance.
Navigating the new normal
Millennials are leading the charge on promoting remote and hybrid work models. They argue that these arrangements not only alleviate stress but also contribute to a more balanced lifestyle. Such an approach allows employees, particularly working parents, to have more flexibility to manage their personal and professional lives.
23% of millennials say that remote and hybrid work drives better productivity because they can focus on work without the distractions of an office environment. Plus, 69% of millennial parents think hybrid work improved their mental health.
Optimizing productivity and well-being
Millennial managers are strong advocates for balancing productivity with employee well-being. They prioritize mental health and support initiatives that foster a positive work environment. Programs focused on wellness and engagement are becoming increasingly popular.
Leveraging technology
Embracing technology is a key component of the millennial approach to management. Millennials are quick to adopt and integrate new tech tools, including generative AI, to enhance efficiency and productivity. Their willingness to use cutting-edge technology streamlines workflows and helps achieve better results.
5. Skills over rigid office rules
Who cares about dress codes when the real focus should be talent and contribution?
Millennial managers are shifting away from rigid dress codes, emphasizing skills and work quality. They’re not hung up on whether someone wears a suit or jeans; what matters is the value they bring to the team.
Encouraging personal expression
Millennial leaders believe in allowing employees to express themselves through their choices. Whether someone prefers a blazer, a casual sweater, or even something more unconventional, these managers understand that personal expression can boost confidence and job satisfaction.
Challenging gender norms
These forward-thinking managers are also breaking down traditional gender expectations in the workplace by promoting transparency and better policies, such as menstrual leaves and paternity leaves.
Summarize this article for me pleaseElevate your Management Skills with ClickUp
Millennials aren’t ones to stick to traditional management styles; they prefer to do things their own way and are all about overcoming generational differences, making positive changes and ensuring the whole team benefits.
If you’re also on the path to become a millennial manager, you’ve probably picked up some solid skills from the economically uncertain times and a socially dynamic world. These skills can help you lead your team and make a positive impact.
One way to transition smoothly into management roles is by using new and innovative management tools like ClickUp. ClickUp helps streamline projects, improve communication, and track progress, making it easier to manage your team effectively and keep everyone aligned with your goals.
Sign up for free on ClickUp today and take the next step in your leadership journey!
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